A major chunk of land in central Maple Ridge is now on the selling block, after the provincial government put its 52 acres of land on the market.
The land is divided into three parcels, one comprising 28 acres between the Haney Bypass and Lougheed Highway, just west of Kanaka Way.
The second parcel is 17 acres and is on the north side of Lougheed Highway. A third parcel of seven acres is sandwiched between Cottonwood Drive and 232nd Street.
DTZ Vancouver Real Estate is selling the parcels, called the Cottonwood Lands, and notes on its website that the land is classifed as urban residential in Maple Ridge’s official community plan.
It points out that the parcels feature south-facing slopes overlooking the Fraser River and are located next to amenities and schools and offers greenfield development.
Under the OCP definition, single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and apartments are allowed. Suburbs and conservation areas surround the parcels.
According to Darrell Denton in the district’s economic development office, the parcels are likely to remain alotted for more homes and townhouses.
Steep slopes in the area would make it difficult and costly to put in a commercial or industrial project, he said.
“It’s good news. If there’s interest in the property, then there’s interest in Maple Ridge, which is good news for us.”
Development in that area also could factor in with growth in the Albion flats to the east where a business park, shopping mall and recreational areas are planned.
DTZ’s projections say Maple Ridge was to grow by four per cent from 2011 to 2013 reaching an estimated population of 81,888.
The area originally was planned as the northern crossing point for the Golden Ears Bridge, until that project was moved to the border between Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.
