Township council, July 27: a family doctor gap, an AI policy, goats for wildfire risk and the transportation plan pushed to November

This was the last regular Township council meeting before the summer break and the October election, and it had the feel of one: a long list of delegations, a stack of final readings, and one big item pushed to the next council.

How many family doctors Langley needs

The Langley Division of Family Practice gave council its numbers. Langley has 189 primary care family physicians. The Health Connect Registry shows 19,247 Township registrations, 14,825 patients now attached to a provider and 2,352 still waiting. The Division said Ministry of Health data suggests about 20,000 unattached patients in Langley, but only about 2,400 are on the registry, which suggests many people without a doctor haven’t signed up.

Looking ahead, the Division projected 42,599 more residents by 2041, for a population of 206,563, and estimated 69 more family physicians will be needed: 31 for growth and 38 to replace retirements. Their ask was to work with the Township on where new clinics should go as neighbourhoods are planned. If you don’t have a family doctor, the Division’s point is simple: get on the provincial Health Connect Registry (HealthLink BC can help at 8-1-1), because unregistered patients don’t show up in the numbers used to plan for doctors.

Transportation and Mobility Strategy deferred to November 16

The Transportation and Mobility Strategy, meant to be the Township’s long-term guide for transportation planning and priorities, came back for endorsement in principle. Council instead deferred it to the November 16, 2026 meeting, which puts it in front of the newly elected council. Councillor Richter was opposed to the deferral.

Roads and paths

• 16 Avenue: $225,000 for detailed design of short-term improvements on the 16 Avenue corridor goes into the 2027-2031 financial plan for consideration.
• Willoughby multi-use paths: $120,000 for detailed design to close eight gaps in Willoughby’s multi-use path network goes into the financial plan, and staff were asked to work with HUB Cycling Langley on updated maps.
• 272 Street: detailed design of active transportation improvements goes into the financial plan.
• Grant applications: $250,000 toward the Langley Events Centre’s outdoor Sportsbox activity area and $1 million toward the 212 Street Connector, both from the Build Communities Strong Fund.

An AI policy, and goats

Council approved an Acceptable Use of AI Policy for the Township. It also passed Councillor Rindt’s motion asking staff to report on a targeted grazing pilot, using sheep and goats on Township land such as parks, greenbelts, hydro and creek corridors and road allowances to cut wildfire fuel and invasive plants with less mowing and herbicide. The Township’s Operations Centre had already tried goats at a detention pond. Councillor Richter was opposed. A second motion asked staff to pull existing practices into a Green Boulevard and Park Innovation Initiative: drought-tolerant planting, pollinator meadows, rain gardens and smarter irrigation.

Residents and groups at the microphone

• The Langley Farmers’ Institute spoke on the state of farming in the Township; council asked staff to report back.
• Residents raised safety at Fraser Highway’s intersections with 256 Street and 264 Street. The 264 Street request was referred to staff for an updated report.
• A resident asked council to waive new fees, starting in 2027, on a secondary suite that isn’t rented out; it was referred to staff.
• Owners of a 1920s house in south Langley asked for help saving it as a heritage building; council referred it to staff to assist.

Final readings

Council adopted the updated Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw and its fees (Councillor Richter opposed; the background is in our July 13 recap), the bigger green building permit rebates, an inter-municipal business licence with Metro West municipalities, and several rezonings, including Castlehill Homes in the Central Gordon Estate area and BMG’s Heath South project in Willoughby. A limited pilot for interim on-site stormwater detention in part of the Williams neighbourhood was endorsed.

Information memos covered pharmacy spacing, truck parking on Agricultural Land Reserve land, the second-quarter ALC decisions and 208 Street between 36 and 44 Avenue.

More background: Langley emergency and health contacts · Township of Langley council