Langley Township’s Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) issue returned to council 11 May 2026 through what staff described as housekeeping amendments to the Brookswood-Fernridge community and neighbourhood plans.

The proposed changes remove references to CACs, and replace them with broader language referring to “applicable bylaws and policies.”

Councillor Margaret Kunst asked what those applicable policies would include. Staff said they could include the Brookswood-Fernridge Greenway Amenity policy, arterial policies, the Township’s adopted Amenity Cost Charge, or ACC, bylaw, and the interim voluntary community amenity contribution policy.

That raised questions from Councillor Kim Richter, who asked why the plan should still rely on language broad enough to include voluntary amenity contributions when council has already adopted an ACC bylaw.

Staff said some in-stream applications, and some applications already approved by council, are not covered by the ACC bylaw.

Richter then asked whether the voluntary policy was legally sound. Staff said legal advice would have to be discussed in a closed meeting.

“I guess what I’m concerned about is that if we continue the use of something like this VAC that we may end up in another court situation,” Richter said.

Mayor Eric Woodward said his understanding was that the Province’s ACC framework required community plans to be updated, and that the broader wording would prevent the plans from needing repeated amendments as legislation or policies change.

“But it’s not a housekeeping matter,” Richter replied. “It’s a potential liability for the Township.”

Woodward asked why Richter believed CACs were problematic.

“Because I believe there was a ruling that they’re beyond our statutory abilities and the only thing within our statutory ability is an ACC,” Richter said.

The Township’s previous CAC policy was ruled invalid by the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2025. The Township has since adopted an ACC bylaw, while maintaining an interim voluntary contribution policy for files not captured by the new framework.

The exchange highlighted the unresolved transition from the old CAC system to the new ACC system. Council is changing the old wording, but the interim policy remains in place for some applications. That is significant because growth-related charges have been framed around the principle that development should help pay for the amenities required by growth. Monday’s discussion showed that the question is no longer only whether growth should pay, but which tools the Township can use under the current framework.

Council gave the Brookswood-Fernridge bylaws first and second reading unanimously, sending them toward public hearing.

A similar issue came up moments later during the Willoughby Community and Neighbourhood Plan updates. Richter asked whether voluntary amenity contributions appeared in the fees and charges bylaw. Staff said they did not, because the voluntary contribution policy is separate and is neither a fee nor a charge.

Councillor Michael Pratt clarified that the fees and charges bylaw covers items such as dog permits, cemetery fees and recreation fees, not DCCs, ACCs, voluntary contributions or greenway amenity contributions.

Woodward then moved to limit one of the Willoughby bylaws to first and second reading so it would return with the rest of the package. That amendment passed unanimously. The Willoughby item was later deferred to May 25, with Richter opposed.

With the Township no longer pursuing an appeal, the May 11 amendments reflect council working within the court ruling.

The references to CACs may be coming out of the plans, but the questions around in-stream applications and future amenity funding remain.