City Centre Plan

Hi Maxine,

Thank you for your question.

The planning process for the Bolivar Heights and Green Timbers Districts is part of a larger update to the City Centre Plan, which is currently being targeted for completion in Spring 2023.  The planning process for the Bolivar Heights and Green Timbers Districts component began in early 2021, with an initial online survey and engagement taking place in Spring 2021.  Over the summer and early fall, feedback from the survey helped us develop draft land use options for the neighbourhood, which were presented in a second survey in November 2021.  We are currently reviewing the survey results from the Fall 2021 survey and are refining the draft land use options.  Extension areas are also being considered for the City Centre Plan and consultation for the extension areas will take place in the next couple of months.  It is anticipated that an interim Corporate Report for the Bolivar Heights District, Green Timbers District, and extension areas will go to Council in Spring 2022 and will provide an updated draft land use concept, transportation network, and parks and natural areas network.  Following this, refining the plan including engineering review and updating design guidelines will take place from Spring 2022 to Fall 2022.  Updating the financial strategy, preparing the plan document, and final public consultation, review, and Corporate Report to Council will occur from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023.

For more information on the City Centre Plan Update and what’s being planned for the Bolivar Heights District, Green Timbers District, and extension areas, please visit our website at https://engage.surrey.ca/city-centre-plan.  The draft land use options that were presented in Fall 2021 are available in the "Documents" section in the bottom right of the page.

Best regards,

Fay

Hi Gen,

Thank you for your question.

School District staff work in close collaboration with City staff in preparing their student projections.  The work begins with School District staff being fully participant in the preparation of land use plans for Surrey’s neighbourhoods.  This helps establish the need and size of future schools, as well as their proposed locations.  This information guides School District land acquisitions.  In addition, every quarter, City staff and School District staff meet to review land use plan status, discuss the population projection model for the City that is used by City staff, and finally, every month, School District staff are provided with a summary of residential building permits issued for the month, which include the location, dwelling unit type, and number of dwelling units.   

The more detailed student yield projections are based on key reviews.  School District staff review current student yield from existing projects, unit type, and location, after which they will establish trends and student yield projections that will then be used when reviewing development applications.  This helps School District staff establish a more precise two- to five-year enrollment projection per catchment areas, which guides their capital planning process, including future property needs that will host new schools in Surrey.  Overall, the student growth projections are usually on-target, and the School District continues to seek ongoing capital project funding from the Province in order to meet the demands.

Projects that have received Provincial approval within City Centre Plan school catchments include a seismic upgrade of Queen Elizabeth Secondary, which is currently under construction and targeted for completion by September 2022, and an 8-classroom addition to K.B. Woodward Elementary which is also under construction and targeted for completion in May 2023.  Other projects that are on the School District’s current Capital Plan but that have not been approved for Provincial funding, yet, include additions to 3 elementary schools (Old Yale Road, Lena Shaw, and Forsyth) and an addition to 1 secondary school (Kwantlen Park).

For more information on the School District’s projects and Capital Plan, please visit their website at https://www.surreyschools.ca/departments/BMGS/projects/projectdetails/Pages/default.aspx.

Best regards,

Fay

Hello Dino,

Often when providing new parks, the City must first acquire land that is within private ownership. As a result, the timeline for delivering parks is largely tied to the plans of individual property owners since the City will not expropriate land for parks. Unfortunately, this means that in some cases it may take several years for a new park to be completed. On the bright side, the City has already begun to assemble properties for the planned park along Grosvenor Road.

Best regards,
Andrew

Hello IS,

Thanks for your question. Through the plan update, we will determine the form of development that is appropriate for the Bolivar Heights neighbourhood. This will likely include a range of housing types including low rise apartments and townhouses, but potentially also the retention of some single family and duplex housing. Where each housing type will be permitted will be determined in consultation with the community in the coming months. Once these "land uses" are established in the plan, rezoning may occur through individual development applications on a site-by-site basis. It typically takes many years for an area to be entirely rezoned and redeveloped.

Best regards,
Andrew

Hello Dave,

Thank you for your question.

There are plans to create a City Centre Sports Complex to meet the growing recreation needs in the City Centre and North Surrey area. This will be accomplished through the expansion of the existing Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre. A firm has been selected to design and manage the construction of the first phase of the project which is expected to be completed in 2024-25. More information will become available as the City and its consultants initiate public consultation for the project.

Best regards,
Andrew

Hi Ssjessica,

Thank you for your question.  

The area south of 96 Ave, between 138 St and 140 St, and north of 93A Ave was recently added as an extension area to the Green Timbers District of the City Centre Plan.  Due to its close proximity to the future SkyTrain station at Fraser Hwy and 140 St, which was approved after the City Centre Plan was approved in 2017, the extension area was added to plan for this area which is within walking distance of the station.  

Highest densities are often found adjacent to SkyTrain stations.  However, there are existing moderate density apartments surrounding the future station.  Some of these are relatively new and most short-term opportunities for growth in this area are farther from the station.  Based on this, we will explore primarily moderate densities for the extension area.

Growth will also provide a range of housing types in the neighbourhood. This will encourage housing diversity which is one of the plan’s guiding principles.

Today, there is very little commercial in Green Timbers. Residents need to leave the neighbourhood to go grocery shopping or get a coffee.  This is particularly true for residents living south of Fraser Highway.  As part of the plan update, we want to ensure all residents are within walking distance of their daily needs.  To do this, we will consider allowing commercial space for local shops and services in Green Timbers.  This could be done through a mixed use node (shops on the ground floor with apartments above) near the future station, or by creating a small neighbourhood commercial centre at the intersection of 96 Ave and 140 St, or by improving connections to commercial areas near the hospital and along King George Blvd.

As the Green Timbers neighbourhood grows, there will be an opportunity to add even more park space particularly in the area south of 96 Avenue.

We are currently reviewing the feedback from the recent survey and are preparing draft land use options.  For the remaining Spring to Fall 2021, we will be developing a draft land use plan, with a draft update to the City Centre Plan anticipated in Fall 2021.  The plan will then be refined and the public will be consulted to confirm and finalize proposals before a final plan document is brought to Council in Fall 2022.

Please check this website for regular updates.

Best regards,

Fay

Hi Ivar,

Thank you for your question.

The existing City Centre Plan, which was approved in 2017, envisions the Bolivar Heights District as a mostly single family neighbourhood with some low rise apartments along portions of 108 Ave and along Hilton Rd.  

However, since the Plan was approved, development interest in the area has increased. There are several active development applications in and around the Bolivar Heights District, including a few that propose changes to the plan.  For example, there are currently development applications that are proposing 5-6 storey apartment buildings along Grosvenor Rd, as well as at the northwest corner of Hilton Rd and Bentley Rd, and at the northwest corner of 108 Ave and 140 St.  There is also a high rise and low rise proposal adjacent to the Bolivar Heights District along King George Blvd and Bolivar Rd.  Considering these development applications, it is likely that the density will increase in the Bolivar Heights District, although not to the scale of the Central Business District and surrounding districts/neighbourhoods.  Higher densities in the City Centre Plan will be focused around SkyTrain stations and along major transportation corridors.

In the Bolivar Heights District, as development occurs, its character will change.  It will shift from a single family neighbourhood to a denser neighborhood with different types of homes and pockets of commercial. With this growth, there will be an opportunity to add new amenities such as paths, parks, and local shopping.  Updating the land uses in the Bolivar Heights District (as part of the City Centre Plan review) will ensure cohesive development.

We are currently reviewing the feedback from the recent survey and are preparing draft land use options.  For the remaining Spring to Fall 2021, we will be developing a draft land use plan, with a draft update to the City Centre Plan anticipated in Fall 2021.  The plan will then be refined and the public will be consulted to confirm and finalize proposals before a final plan document is brought to Council in Fall 2022. 

Please check this website for regular updates.

Best regards,

Fay 

Hello Kathleen,

Thank you for your question. There are plans to expand the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre to provide additional recreational facilities to serve City Centre residents. The former North Surrey Recreation Centre site (Centre Block) is reserved for future commercial redevelopment. Once redeveloped, the site will play an important role in the City's plans to create a Central Business District, offering significant employment and institutional space in the heart of City Centre.

Best regards,
Andrew

Hello Lynn,

Thank you for your question.

The area along Quibble Creek behind Surrey Memorial Hospital is just one option we are considering for a new park in the Green Timbers neighbourhood. If located there, it would include a riparian setback for the protection of the creek as well as a separate area for typical neighbourhood park features such as paths, seating or playgrounds.

Best regards,
Andrew

Hi Jk, 

Thank you for your question.   

We are early in the planning process for the Bolivar Heights District, so we don’t have a land use plan for the area, yet.  At this stage, we are developing the plan.  If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to complete the online survey (Residential Survey – Bolivar Heights & Green Timbers Districts) to provide your input which will help us develop the plan for the Bolivar Heights District.  The survey is available at https://engage.surrey.ca/city-centre-plan/survey_tools/residential-survey.  

Over the course of the Spring to Fall, we will be developing a draft land use plan, updating the land uses in the Bolivar Heights District, as well as in the Green Timbers District and in the City Centre’s Central Business District.  A draft update to the City Centre Plan is anticipated to be brought to Council this Fall 2021.  The plan will then be refined and the public will be consulted to confirm and finalize proposals before a final plan document is brought to Council in Fall 2022.

Best regards,

Fay