Two nearly identical townhouse projects, one in Langley Township the other in Delta expose a confounding gap in Development Cost Charges, raising fresh concerns about how Mayor Woodward’s aggressive fee hikes are slowing down and making housing significantly less affordable for young families.

The Langley development at 19752 – 80 Avenue for 55 townhomes, is facing a $2.89 million DCC bill, based on Langley Township’s $52,532 per-unit charge. In contrast, Delta’s project located at 4726, 4740, and 4752 60B Street / 6100 Ladner Trunk Road for 56 townhomes, would pay just $751,128 in DCCs, based on Delta’s $13,413 per-unit rate. Langley’s townhouse 55 units will cost four times as much as Delta’s 56 units.

As previously reported by the Langley Monitor, Woodward has tried to frame these extreme fee hikes as a responsible way to fund infrastructure, but in reality, they are acting as a hidden tax on new homebuyers. While Delta carefully studied its rate adjustments, phased them in gradually, and landed at $13,413 per unit, Langley’s $52,532 per-unit charge is among the highest in the region and was imposed with little consideration for affordability.

These fees are only the beginning. Langley Township also charges exorbitant Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) fees on ordinary townhouse projects, plus a 5% tax on total land value – adding tens of thousands of dollars of costs per house on top of the DCCs. Additionally, the municipal DCCs shown here do not include the additional charges from Metro Vancouver, TransLink, and the School District, which push costs even higher. As Langley’s fees continue to climb, developers are forced to pass these costs on to buyers, further straining affordability at a time when young families are already struggling to enter the housing market. Langley Township’s approach raises a critical question: Is the Woodward administration actually supporting responsible growth, or is it simply making homeownership even more out of reach?