Surrey mayor outlines her fast-tracking wish list
With an eye on shaping her fast-growing city, Surrey’s mayor plans to pick a small number of transformative projects each year that will be accelerated through the development process.
During her 2016 State of the City address, Linda Hepner talked briefly about what she called “a sort of Nexus program for our city’s experienced builders.”
Last week, she expanded on the idea, telling those at her 2017 address that she plans to select six to eight projects annually for fast-tracking. The objective is to reduce approval time for the projects by at least half.
Hepner said the other part of the program involves streamlining the process for all development applications.
The mayor said she consulted with senior city staff to decide how many and which projects would be fasttracked this year, but the final decision was ultimately hers.
“There’s no magic formula. It’s really, is it something that I can see either benefits the residents, benefits the city in terms of an economic savings, or is a service that is much needed in the city?” she said. “It really depends, quite frankly, on the applications in front of us.”
When asked how she would address the appearance of bias or conflict of interest — that she is choosing the proposals of friends or donors — she said: “It just wouldn’t happen. It’s just not who I am.”
She said she has been approached by supporters who suggested their projects are transformative, “and I said, quite frankly, it isn’t.”
Hepner said although she’ll choose which projects should be fast-tracked, they’ll have to go through the entire development process, including a public hearing and votes by council.
Hepner said the first project on her list is the Simon Fraser University sustainable energy and environmental engineering building, under construction at University Drive and 102nd Avenue. The five-storey, 174,000-square-foot building is expected to open in spring 2018.
Next on her list is the Legion Veterans Village, which will be constructed on the site of the existing Whalley Legion Branch 229 on 135A Street.
Hepner said another “important project” comes from the Jim Pattison Development Group — a 400room hotel, indoor water park and family-themed resort in south Surrey. A 41-storey development called Park Boulevard is also on Hepner’s fast-track list. The project, proposed by Concord Pacific, would see the construction of Canada’s first interactive illuminated residential tower next to King George SkyTrain station.
The fifth and final project Hepner outlined is Anthem Properties’ proposed Surrey City Centre development at King George Boulevard and 102 Avenue. The four-hectare site would include seven residential apartment buildings.
Applications have not yet been received for the resort or King George developments.