Smart Development is at the centre of Surrey’s long- and short-range development planning that focuses on offering residents diverse housing options near essential infrastructure such as schools and parks.
It also prioritizes the conservation of sensitive ecosystems, while ensuring that Surrey continues to advance as one of Canada’s most livable cities, with safe routes for walking, cycling and recreation.
“As Mayor, I am committed to reversing the pattern where our schools are bursting beyond capacity as a result of new development not aligning with essential infrastructure,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “By bringing in Smart Development, Council is ensuring that all new development aligns with the construction of schools, transit and other amenities. Smart Development also supports the conservation of sensitive eco-systems, while delivering safe routes for walking, cycling and recreation.” - Mayor Doug McCallum
Aligning development with essential infrastructure
Ensuring the planning of new development aligns with construction or accessibility to essential infrastructure, such as schools, transit and other amenities.
Offering A Range of Housing Choices
Ensuring a variety of housing choices are available to address affordability demands of homeowners and renters.
Creating compact, connected and walkable urban centres
Establishing centres that are more compact, connected and walkable will increase accessibility to employment, recreational, entertainment and educational opportunities.
Expanding transit-oriented development
Increasing density of jobs and homes in proximity to higher order transit, such as SkyTrain and RapidBus lines, to better connect residents to jobs and services, and reduce commute times, congestion and green house gas emissions (GHGs).
Preserving Sensitive Ecosystems
Ensuring Surrey’s continued growth is guided by conservation, sustainability and the enhancement of key sensitive ecosystems, while delivering safe routes for walking, cycling and recreation.
Community Engagement and responsiveness to housing and business demands
Ensuring that development and planning follow a public engagement process that gives residents the opportunity to help shape Surrey’s neighbourhoods and communities, while responding to housing and business demands.
