Campus expansion plan
Trinity Western University is in the midst of plans to acquire nearby property for further university developments. According to Associate Provost Sheldon Loeppky, TWU has “partnered with the Township of Langley to apply to the Agricultural Land Commission to remove out of the Agricultural Land Reserve approximately 23.4 acres for the university.”
Photo Credit: Tim Andries
The ALC has conditionally approved three parcels of land for TWU and the Township of Langley to divide. The land is in two main areas: one is located north of Glover Road parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway and Labonte Avenue while the other is northwest of the campus, south of Labonte. TWU has received confirmation from the landowners that the acres will be donated to the university provided the Township council approves.
Of the approximate 70.5 acres of donated land, only a small percentage is developable. The Township plans to acquire 9.33 acres, leaving the University with the two separate plots, of which only 23.4 are planned to be developed. Loeppky stated that the university is seeking to “rezone the acres from rural to institutional use.”
The town council has been considering TWU’s proposal for this land since March of 2010, with the ALC approving in November of that same year. The council planned to make a decision by February 6, but due to scheduling conflicts, the decision will not be reached until February 13,2012. Until then, “we’ll have to wait to find out what the council decides,” said Loeppky.
If the Township approves, the University is planning on using the area to construct more administrative, research, educational, and residential buildings and extending the University campus. The undevelopable land would be used for continual ecological research very similar to the Ecosystem Study Area that already surrounds the campus. Owning the land would also make it possible to connect TWU to roads leading to Langley Events Centre. The connection would cut down travel time for the Athletics department as well as open up an alternative access to campus.
According to Loeppky, the Campus Master Plan for future developments does not extend beyond the currently owned property, so no official plans for the land have been formalized. “But it’s good due diligence to look beyond what we currently own, and look to eventually expand the breadth of our programs,” said Loeppky. “It’s just dreams and nothing factual at this point.”
While TWU is applying for this land, Wall Financial Group has also put in a request to 13.5 acres to build residential housing on the northeast corner of Glover Road. While these two requests are being submitted simultaneously, they are completely separate requests. However, Loeppky sees the potential for faculty, staff, and upperclassmen housing in these proposed lots, 18 of which will contain coach houses. “Around 100 to 150 upperclassmen cannot be housed on campus, while 50 per cent of the staff have to commute from areas outside of Langley,” Loeppky noted.
Many Langley residents have voiced opposition to both these proposals. Residents have shown concern for the environmental issues posed in development, especially related to the loss of farmland and the effect on the Salmon River that runs through TWU. In an address to the council, Loeppky stated that TWU “recognizes the biodiversity of the region it resides in and has committed to being a responsible steward of it.” Loeppky noted the successes of TWU’s Ecological Stewardship Committee with preserving and protecting the salmon near campus. He also pointed out the land to be developed has no agricultural viability.
The University will still have to wait for the Township’s decision on the 13th, but the potential development on the proposed acres will not likely begin anytime soon, as no official plans on what to do with the land have been drawn up yet.
Clayton Andres
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