‘Shocked’: Surrey neighbourhoods protesting higher density in draft OCP

The ink is barely dry on the City of Surrey’s draft of the next Official Community Plan and some residents are already mounting opposition to its land-use designations that allow more density in their neighbourhoods.

A group of Crescent Beach and Ocean Park residents are objecting to any increased density beyond single-family homes being included in Surrey 2050, the draft OCP document recently released by the city.

According to a map in the Surrey 2050 document, properties west of 128 Street – plus some just east and then south – are listed as Urban I, which would allow small-scale multi-unit housing such as rowhouses, townhouses and low-rise apartments up to four storeys. A small portion of the neighbourhood around 16 Avenue and 128 Street would be designated as Urban II, allowing more density.

“I am literally shocked at what’s being proposed,” Sandra Sereda, a 30-year area resident, told the Citizen. “What are they thinking? You can’t just rip up a neighbourhood like this.”

The residents went to council Monday night to air their opposition to changes to Crescent Beach and Ocean Park. They are also launching a website this week.

An online petition has also been set up that is connected to a controversial proposal to build 89 townhouses at 24 Avenue and 128 Street near Crescent Park Elementary. That project, by Qualico Developments, drew dozens of angry residents who say it’s too much density for the area.

The project was already scaled back from 93 units to 89, but the residents still say it’s too much – with fears of more dangerous traffic in the area. The project has been paused by council, who sent it back to city staff for another look.

Sereda and others say it’s this kind of project that doesn’t belong in their neighbourhood – something they say the proposed OCP will encourage more of and “overwhelm” their area.

“Residents have expressed concern that the proposed changes could significantly alter the character of these neighbourhoods while placing additional strain on existing infrastructure,” reads a statement by the group. “Local roads are narrow and were not designed to accommodate major increases in traffic.”

But the City of Surrey says the new OCP is a bold vision for the future.

“This is a major milestone in planning for the future of Surrey,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “Surrey 2050 reflects the dynamic nature of our growing city as it approaches one million residents, supporting more affordable homes, stronger infrastructure, and responsible growth for all. We take pride in putting forward a plan that respects Surrey’s past, acknowledges the realities of the present, and looks to a vibrant and bright future.”

Surrey’s last OCP, PlanSurrey 2013, was adopted in 2014. Significant growth, new provincial housing legislation, and evolving community needs have made an update essential. Surrey 2050 modernizes the framework to better support long-term City planning by:

• Reducing policies from over 600 down to approximately 200
• Simplifying land-use designations to reduce the need for future bylaw amendments
• Adding policies on housing affordability, climate change, and economic and infrastructure pressures
• Managing growth in a sustainable, resilient, and community-focused way

You can read more about the draft OCP here.