A BC Supreme Court judge has ruled against the City of Surrey’s decision that led to the halt of a 482-unit townhouse project by Fergus Creek Homes.
The project was approved under former mayor Doug McCallum however, the developer’s application was rescinded by the new city council under Mayor Locke after the 2022 municipal elections.
The property developer of Fergus Creek Homes Ltd. property applied for judicial review of a series of decisions made on November 28, 2022, by Council for the City of Surrey which had the effect of halting the Petitioner’s proposed property development project.
According to the court ruling, “These decisions rescinded resolutions Council had made previously relating to the Petitioner’s development project, including rescinding third reading of bylaws applicable to the Petitioner’s proposed development; “filing” the applicable bylaws; and closing the Petitioner’s development application.”
Justice Michael Stephens has asked the city council to reconsider the developer’s application.
The Safe Surrey Coalition is calling on Premier Eby for provincial intervention. “This project was a significant move towards addressing the “missing middle” housing deficit in Surrey,” said former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum.
The Safe Surrey Coalition is urging Premier David Eby and Minister of Housing Ravi Khalon to step in and ensure that once a housing project receives approval, it cannot be overturned by subsequent political whims.
McCallum criticized Mayor Brenda Locke and her Councillors’ actions, stating, “Mayor Locke’s decision to cancel PLA (primary layout approval) for this project and other projects is a clear example of politics over people, costing Surrey taxpayers millions and delaying critical housing for middle-class families. It’s a step back for our community and a blow to our reputation as a place for future housing investment.”
The cancellation of the PLA for this 482 townhouse project has led to costly legal battles in the millions, funded by Surrey taxpayers, and significant delays in increasing housing supply in the City of Surrey. “This isn’t just about one project; it’s about the future of housing in Surrey. We’ve seen a pattern of reckless behavior from Brenda Locke that prioritizes personal politics over the needs of Surrey residents,” McCallum added.
The Safe Surrey Coalition is deeply concerned with Mayor Locke’s disregard for taxpayer resources and her anti-housing policies, compounded by double-digit tax increases to fund her legal disputes, he said.
“The Province recently passed Bill 44 to increase housing supply across the province, and here is a housing project that has all the zoning approvals in place, went through years of public consultations and can break ground tomorrow but unfortunately is stuck in limbo just because Mayor Brenda Locke doesn’t like the project. Premier Eby and Minister Kahlon should step in and take action on this to deliver missing middle housing,” McCallum emphasized.
“The Safe Surrey Coalition calls on Brenda Locke to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on costly legal battles that enrich her lobbyist and lawyer friends and instead focus back on sustainable, affordable housing solutions that benefit all Surrey residents,” concluded McCallum.
