Maple Ridge launches ‘Velocity’ program to speed up priority developments

Maple Ridge is rolling out a new program aimed at moving major housing, commercial and industrial developments through the city’s approval process more efficiently.

The city officially launched its Velocity Enhanced Development Approvals program on Sept. 23, describing it as a first-of-its-kind initiative in B.C. for projects that advance municipal priorities such as affordable and transit-oriented housing, job creation and business investment.

Projects accepted into Velocity will receive a dedicated city contact and an integrated team of staff from departments involved in the approval process.

The goal is to identify potential problems earlier and better coordinate complicated applications that can require rezoning, development permits, subdivisions or variances.

“Maple Ridge is one of the fastest-growing communities in British Columbia, and we need housing, local jobs, and services to keep pace,” Mayor Dan Ruimy said.

Ruimy said the program is intended to reduce red tape and make the city more competitive for investment by bringing the necessary staff together earlier in the development process.

However, the city stressed Velocity is not a shortcut around its development rules.

Projects will still have to meet regulatory, environmental, technical and safety requirements, and participation will not eliminate required reviews or council oversight or guarantee an application will ultimately be approved.

Velocity follows a one-year pilot launched in 2025 that the city said was used to establish eligibility requirements, governance and performance measures.

The program is being funded with a portion of the $16.6 million Maple Ridge received through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. There is currently no additional fee for developers to participate.

Developers also won’t have to submit a separate Velocity application. Instead, regular development applications will be screened by city staff to determine whether they qualify.

The city said staff will consider factors including a project’s strategic significance, complexity, readiness and potential community benefits, along with the city’s capacity to provide the enhanced service.

Potential candidates include affordable and below-market housing, high-density residential projects in priority growth areas, major commercial and industrial developments and mixed-use projects.

Successful applicants will be assigned a “Development Concierge” to coordinate the file, along with a project-specific approvals strategy and an integrated staff team.

Both the city and developer will also sign a program charter setting expectations around communication, timelines, transparency and resolving problems as they arise.

The city is tying the initiative in part to its provincial housing target, which requires Maple Ridge to add 3,954 net new homes over five years by June 30, 2029.

As of the end of the target’s second year, Maple Ridge had recorded 1,272 net new homes, 12 fewer than the province’s cumulative two-year target of 1,284.

James Stiver, the city’s director of planning and building, said meeting the provincial target will require a more coordinated approach to development applications.

“Velocity is a new and innovative way to help us support projects that deliver on meaningful community benefits by navigating the process more efficiently, without lowering standards or bypassing public and Council processes,” Stiver said.

The city said Velocity will operate alongside other efforts to speed up its development system, including its online permitting portal and Certified Professional Program.