Trucker’s ‘oasis’ proposal in British Columbia withdrawn

Truckers anticipating the truck parking “oasis” proposed in Surrey, British Columbia, can stop wondering when or if the facility will open. City officials confirmed to Land Line that the company behind the proposal has withdrawn its application for the 77-acre truck parking facility.

Langley Times reports that the company behind the truck park plan withdrew its application as a reaction to community concerns. A spokesperson for GG Metro Holdings told Langley Times that the company is working with the community to consider alternative uses for the land.

In September 2015, city officials said Surrey was reviewing a proposal for a truck-only parking area by a company called GG Metro Holdings. The company referred to the plan as a “trucker’s oasis.”

According to a presentation to the Transportation Committee, the 77-acre site would have been along 16th Avenue in Surrey, which is already a truck route that limits exposure to residential areas. Landscaping was suggested to block the view of the truck park from the public. The proposed location was near the U.S. border, Deltaport and Abbotsford Airport.

According to the trucker’s oasis presentation and corporate reports from the general managers of Surrey’s Planning and Development department and Engineering department, the burden of cost has been a major hurdle in the planning process. Several areas are off the table for consideration due to either government restrictions or lack of support from nearby residents or landowners. Current market value yields a hefty price tag.

The trucker’s oasis proposal envisioned a “one-stop shop” for the parking area, including wash rooms, maintenance and tire repair. Other features included 24/7 security and office space for the small-business owner-operator.

However, the proposal was thrown into the public spotlight when opponents took issue with environmental issues. Last November, Land Line reported that many were concerned with potential risks to salmon and other wildlife nearby. The city has since been waiting for an environmental report from GG Metro Holdings to address the issues surrounding wildlife and many other concerns.

According to Friends of Hazelmere-Campbell Valley, a group of local stakeholders, the area “has been the subject of vigorous rezoning attempts.” In 2007, the city denied a rezoning application for a 70-unit townhouse and 183 single-family small lots. A 2011 application for a dump site was also denied. In 2014, an application for 34 industrial lots was closed. All applications, including the latest truck parking facility, were submitted by the same agent, Mike Kompter of Hub Engineering.

Before the trucker’s oasis application was withdrawn, the review of the final plan was expected to be completed sometime between November 2016 and March 2017.

The Parking Zone – November 2019