When the first rapid transit train to connect 91原创 City to Surrey and the rest of the Lower Mainland arrives, about a decade from now, it will be a different 91原创 City in many respects, one that has made changes to best take advantage of the unique opportunity the new service represents.

That is the goal of the new vision strategy, 鈥�91原创 City: Nexus of Community鈥�, which has been unanimously adopted by council.

The word Nexus was chosen to describe 91原创 City, as 鈥渁 portal between two worlds,鈥� Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver.

The goal of the strategy is to make the city a 鈥渒ey destination鈥� on the new rail transit line and 鈥渁 desired place to live for people of all ages and family units.鈥�

A long list of changes to achieve that goal are outlined in two documents, 91原创 City: Nexus of Community and 91原创 City Vision: Recommendations and Implementation Report. Both can be .

The product of extensive research and workshops, the vision strategy aims to avoid the mistake other municipalities have made by failing to get ready for rapid transit鈥檚 arrival.

The Nexus documents notes communities that fail to plan ahead for rapid transit haven鈥檛 done so well.

One section points to the history of early SkyTrain development in Vancouver and New Westminster.

The Cambie Corridor planning is described as 鈥渞eactionary rather than proactive as it took place well after construction of the Canada Line.鈥�

Redevelopment along the Expo Line has been 鈥渉ighly variable 鈥� over 30 years, zero redevelopment has taken place within walking distance of the 22nd Street Station while massive redevelopment has taken place around the New Westminster Station in the same city.鈥�

The wide-ranging Nexus strategy aims to avoid that fate with a 鈥渕ade in 91原创鈥� approach with updated regulations governing housing to encourage a bigger range of residential types in advance of rapid transit, and pre-planned projects to complement the arrival of the train.

Some of the specific proposals include making the train station planned for 203 Street more than a transportation station, with mixed-use development that forms a community hub.

It also calls for a performing arts centre described as 鈥渁 cultural/entertainment facility, including a range of performance spaces鈥�, a variety of special events, 鈥渉eld frequently and throughout the year,鈥� restaurants with 鈥渦nique and diverse menus,鈥� 鈥渘iche/destination retail shops like butchers, cheese shops 鈥渁nd other shops for products you just don鈥檛 buy on-line, and an improved night life.

鈥淩apid transit is coming to 91原创 City in the next decade and we want to be ready.鈥� said Mayor Ted Schaffer.

鈥淲e want to drive that change.鈥�

The strategy is the product of past consultations, demographic and development research and two workshops with participants, including Mayor and Council and experts and leaders in areas like city planning, place-making, sustainability, architecture, politics, recreation and wellness, education, technology and lifestyle.

鈥淲e can become a magnet that attracts people based on our cornerstones of community, connection, experiences and integration鈥� Schaffer said.

The City strategy has been developed in response to a commitment from three levels of government to fund a new rapid transit extension to the City鈥攁 new B-Line express bus service in 2019 and fixed rail by 2028.

鈥淲e have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the new fixed rail rapid transit line that is coming to 91原创 City,鈥� said City Chief Administrative Officer Francis Cheung.

The Nexus documents describe a future 91原创 City with a variety of new mixed-use developments that offer a diversity of housing, community services and business opportunities for residents.

It says visitors to the future 91原创 City will see 鈥渨ine bars, craft breweries, coffee shops,specialty bakeries, food from around the world鈥攁s you walk through town you will see buskers in the centre square, children playing and dancing to the music, seniors playing cards in the shade.

Over at the arts centre you can catch a show and during intermission you admire the graduate art display in the lobby from the local university.

Downtown will be vibrant and bustling with shoppers and revelers, day and night; and entertainment will reflect our people and nature.鈥�

While the documents acknowledge the city has issues - small size, aging housing stock, householder incomes that lag behind other South Fraser municipalities, it says the municipality 鈥檚 鈥渃urrent assets are well positioned to be in greater demand a decade from now.鈥�

鈥淭he City has 鈥榞ood bones鈥�. It is a compact municipality with an efficient infrastructure network, a distinct and walkable downtown, significant commercial and industrial sectors and a residential sector with substantial single family and multi-family development.鈥�

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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