Developersets sights on mayor’s chair in Langley
Woodward says it has nothing to do with personal business issues with council
You can’t accuse Eric Woodward of lacking vision.
The developer, whose ambitious projects have at times divided Fort Langley, has announced he may challenge incumbent Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese and longtime city councillor Kim Richter in the coming race for the mayor’s chair.
He plans to make his intentions known, one way or another, at the end of summer.
Despite an ongoing conflict with township staff, Woodward said his reasons for “considering ” a mayoral run don’t have anything to do with his stalled development plans. Earlier this year, at an impasse over what he called “onerous and ridiculous” building requirements, he boarded up six storefronts and withdrew development applications for three projects, including a boutique hotel, on Fort Langley ’s main street.
But Woodward insists his political aspirations are simply about “helping Langley become better.”
“It’s not about personal ambition,” he said Thursday.
He believes council is too focused on the car and the creation of neighbourhoods where residents “drive to the strip mall and drive home.”
Woodward said he wants to see more mixed-use developments in neighbourhoods like Aldergrove, Willoughby and Brookswood, pointing to one of his successful Fort Langley projects, the Coulter Berry building, as an example. But the developer’s critics also mention the building in their arguments against his political candidacy, saying he has a history of sowing division.
In 2013, a group of residents, upset council allowed the threestorey Coulter Berry building to proceed contrary to a bylaw restricting buildings in Fort Langley to two storeys, sued the township to stop the project. Council’s de- cision to allow the building was validated by a court ruling.
George Otty, one of the residents against the Coulter Berry building, called Woodward’s recent announcement a “political game.”
“Why would you want to take what’s happened in Fort Langley and spread it across all of Langley?” he said, referencing both the controversy over Coulter Berry and concerns about the boardedup buildings.
Realtor Andy Schildborn said the township needs a mayor with a “collaborative approach.”
Fort Langley Business Improvement Association president Gareth Abreo said his group had no comment on Woodward’s announcement “other than to wish all candidates running for office in the Township of Langley the best of luck. We look forward to working with whoever is elected this coming October to make Fort Langley an even more desirable place to visit and to do business,” he said in an email.
Asked about his characterization as a polarizing figure, Woodward said he is committed to public consultation. Before presenting his plans for a boutique hotel in Fort Langley, he held focus groups to determine the community ’s wishes. But he said “there are people you can’t build consensus with.”
The developer was also unconcerned about working with township staff, pointing out he has had disagreements with one or two out of a staff of about 1,500.
“There’s not going to be issues,” he said. “(However), we do need a bit of culture change.”
As for the six boarded-up buildings, Woodward said he plans to turn some of the lots into a park.