Thursday, September 12, 2024

September 9 Council Notes: Reduce Bike Theft, Business Licensing, and Industrial Land in Surrey

A person riding a bike on Glover Road.

Project 529 Garage is a simple yet effective program to help curb bike theft and improve the chance of recovery if someone does steal your bike. I've posted about this program in the past. The short of it is that you register your bike for free on the 529 Garage app. If it is ever stolen, you can send out an alert through the app, which is supported by crowdsourcing and the police to help recover it.

To make the process even easier, you can also purchase a 529 Shield decal to help further identify your bike and let bike thieves know to leave your bike alone.

Langley City's Crime Prevention Committee operates a volunteer-run bike valet service to provide secure parking for people who take their bikes to major events such as Community Day. The Committee asked Council to approve funding 500 529 Bike Shield kits that they will distribute at events which they attend to help promote this program and reduce bike theft in our community. Council approved this $1,625 request at Monday's meeting.

Langley City participates in the Fraser Valley Intermunicipal Mobile Business Licence program. This program allows mobile trades contractors, hair salons, and caterers to have one business license that is valid from Delta to Hope. Council received a letter from the BC Care Providers Association asking to add home health care providers to this program. Council referred this letter to City staff to investigate.

Council also received a letter from the Metro Vancouver Regional District asking for comments about the City of Surrey's request to change the regional land use from Industrial to Employment for the property located at 7880 128 Street in Newton.

In 2014, I posted about significant non-compliant, non-industrial uses in the Newton Industrial area, which was designated industrial at the city and regional levels. Surrey and the Regional District worked to create the Central Newton Cultural Commercial District to accept what was there and provide a buffer to prevent further industrial conversion. The current request at the edge of this District would result in a loss of 1.3 hectares of industrial land. There is an industrial land shortage in Metro Vancouver.

Council directed City staff to respond to the letter from the Metro Vancouver Regional District requesting comments.

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