Thank you for your question. Please note, the area you are asking about - along Watson, Dundee, and Miller Roads - is not within the planning area of the South Vedder Neighbourhood. The general area along Watson, Dundee, and Miller is currently designated “Low Density Residential” in the City’s 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP). Appropriate built forms may include: single family homes, coach houses, duplexes, and appropriately scaled townhouse development. For more information on the designation of “Low Density Residential”, please see page 64 of the OCP and visit the City’s Online Mapping tool (https://maps.chilliwack.com/b/) to find out more information on this area.

Hello and thank you for your question. The map is provided just to help provide context so it’s easier for respondents to recognise the area. You don’t have to live in the South Vedder Neighbourhood to take the survey. Thanks!

Hi Mike

Thank you for checking in and for participating in the online engagement that took place over the summertime. The results from the online community engagement have been summarized and posted online “Engage Chilliwack” (attached here). Based on the online feedback, we are now currently in the midst of drafting up the future land use plan and key policy direction. Once the draft future land use plan and policy direction are ready, there will be an additional opportunity for public review and input. Please stay tuned for another opportunity to engage in early 2022. In the meantime, you are welcome to email or call us anytime or visit Engage Chilliwack to find out more information on the status of the South Vedder Neighbourhood Plan.

Hi Susan,

Thanks for reaching out on Engage Chilliwack. 

A Development Permit has been applied for to approve the form and character of a new commercial building at 5616 Vedder Road.  As such, preliminary work including the demolition of the existing building is occurring.  As the Development Permit is currently under review, the information that I can provide to you at this time is limited.

Feel free to contact the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Department if you have any additional questions at 604.793.2906 or planning@chilliwack.com.

Hi Mike. Thanks for your questions. There are various factors that influence development in neighbourhoods. For example, timing of redevelopment is dependent on the market and the interest of property owners, and successful rezoning and development approvals (in compliance with City policies, plans, and bylaws). It is not anticipated that all properties will be redeveloped at the same time; essentially, redevelopment occurs as individual landowners determine the viability of redevelopment.

Timing of future road works is also dependent on a number of factors. For example, the City’s 2021 Financial Plan indicates road improvements to this section of Vedder Road (Keith Wilson to Vedder Bridge) is anticipated in 2029, but this timeline could change depending on the amount of development taking place here, changing community needs, and Council priorities. For Vedder Road (Keith Wilson to Vedder Bridge), the current road right-of-way is adequate (greater than 30m) to meet future road upgrades, so expropriation is not anticipated along this portion of Vedder Road.

When it comes to the local roads in this neighbourhood (Morton Road, Alma Avenue, Viola Street, Marie Avenue, Laura Crescent), most of these roads are currently less than the required width of 17.5m, which means that, at time of redevelopment “supplemental setback” will need to be provided to ensure that when/if future road widening occurs, new buildings/structures don’t impact future widening. At time of redevelopment, road dedication and road upgrades would need to be secured at time of construction. Redevelopment must comply with City bylaws, which would require the road frontage improvements and the installation of certain works (i.e., curb, sidewalk, street lighting, street trees, etc.). Expropriation is also not anticipated where there are local roads.

Lastly, regarding the Fircrest Mobile Home Park, we’ve walked through the neighbourhood and have identified this Mobile Home Park as a valuable form of affordable housing, which is needed in our community. At present, we are not aware of any redevelopment plans involving Fircrest Mobile Home Park.

If you have any additional questions, I am happy to discuss them further with you. Please feel welcome to phone me at 604-793-2906 or reach out by email at madelaine.peters@chilliwack.com.

The widening of Vedder Road is part of a larger construction package that will include the widening of Promontory Road from Vedder Elementary east to Chester Drive, and the upgrade of Prest Road from Highway #1 to McGuire Road. The improvements along Vedder Road include road widening to four travel lanes, a centre turning lane, bike lanes, sidewalks and streetlights on both sides of the corridor, along with the relocation of the overhead BC Hydro and Telus poles. In addition, the road improvements at Vedder Road includes lane improvements/widening specifically at the Keith Wilson/Vedder intersection. As the Vedder Road Widening Project was designed to accommodate the projected growth in the City’s 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP), Keith Wilson Road will not be further widened at this time. For more information about the Vedder Road Widening Project, please visit Vedder Projects Frequently Asked Questions. For monthly updates on transportation construction projects feel free to subscribe to our e-newsletter. 

The City recognizes adjacent First Nation communities as an integral, social, economic and environmental part of the overall community and maintains a regular dialogue with First Nations on future growth and development, and opportunities for collaboration. Given current challenges regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the consultation and engagement process is exclusively online (i.e., Bang the Table, social media, letters in the mail, etc.) with opportunities for phone or video meetings to ensure safe community participation. As the South Vedder neighbourhood shares boundaries with the Tzeachten First Nation, letters have been mailed out to the adjacent homeowners/residents in the “Residents of Promontory” and “Englewood Courtyard Apartments”, and Tzeachten First Nation, inviting their input with respect to the Neighbourhood Plan. 

Hi Sandy,

Thank you for your question. The South Vedder neighbourhood is located east of Vedder Road, and directly below the hillside of Promontory. The Fircrest Mobile Home Park is located within this neighbourhood.

We’ve walked through the neighbourhood and have identified the Fircrest Mobile Home Park as a valuable form of affordable housing in the South Vedder neighbourhood. As part of the neighbourhood plan, we are exploring how land in South Vedder neighbourhood is currently being used and to help clarify expectations for new development as it occurs in this area. 

With increased development interest in this area, particularly along Vedder Road, developing a South Vedder neighbourhood plan will ensure there is a unified vision for how the area should grow and develop over time. Although many properties in the area are considered to have high re-development potential, we will also be exploring policy on how to best protect and preserve existing forms of affordable housing in this neighbourhood, in particular, the Fircrest Mobile Home Park.

Please note, there are various factors that influence development in the neighbourhood. For example, timing of redevelopment is dependent on the market and the interest of property owners, and successful rezoning and development.

Thanks again for your question and, should you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to take our “Quick Poll”, “Share Your Story/Ideas” and/or connect with us at 604.793.2906 or email us at planning@chilliwack.com.

Madelaine