FAQs

The City creates land use plans for areas that are experiencing growth and development pressure. A plan determines what can be built and where. It guides the City when considering future development applications. 

Typically a land use plan will aim to:

• Designate future land uses;
• Guide density and height of buildings;
• Increase employment space;
• Address housing affordability;
• Upgrade streets and add connections;
• Improve parks and public spaces; and,
• Renew and add public amenities.

Without a plan, development can occur haphazardly and can lead to speculation and a lack of community amenities and infrastructure. A land use plan provides more certainty for residents, developers, and the City about the community’s future.

No. When the plan update is complete it will only indicate the future potential for land through a designation. Designations describe the general form that can be built on a property. For example, “commercial,” “mid-rise mixed use,” or “park” are all designations. Development applications such as development permits and rezoning applications are still typically required before anything can be built. During a development application process, a public hearing and Council approval are required.

A land use plan is simply a tool to provide certainty for residents, developers, and the City about the community’s future. However, development is in large part market driven, meaning that it will occur when and where there is a demand for new housing, commercial space, etc.

The neighborhood plans in Clayton provide a long range vision for the community. This process will update plans along Fraser Highway in the Clayton Corridor, specifically those around SkyTrain stations. 

The pace of development is dependent on individual property owners redeveloping or choosing to sell their property.  If there aren’t willing buyers, sellers, and developers, then not much will change. In some parts of the Clayton Corridor it will take decades for changes to occur, and in some areas change may not take place. In other areas redevelopment will occur much more quickly as is expected in East Clayton and West Clayton areas.

Many public facilities and services are essential to the day-to-day lives of residents, such as parks, community centres, cultural spaces, public art, childcare facilities, fire halls, and libraries.

The City is typically responsible for providing many of these community amenities. When new development occurs in an area that has a land use plan, financial contributions from new development help fund these amenities. These are called Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) and are collected from developers as part of rezoning applications.

Clayton is experiencing significant growth as it develops into a new urban centre in Surrey. While many neighbourhood plans have been recently completed (such as East and West Clayton), there are several reasons to revisit the plans at this time.

• Growth is is expected in various locations near the future SkyTrain line. Establishing transit oriented development adjacent to the SkyTrain will support transit, housing, and business opportunities.
• Many of the plans were completed before Council approved the SkyTrain extension along Fraser Highway with stations planned at 184 Street, and 190 Street. A review of the surrounding area is needed to ensure safe and convenient access and suitable transit-supportive land uses.
• The area to the east of the Clayton Corridor Plan, around the proposed 196 Street Station, will undergo a separate planning process in the future.