# BYLAW NO. 2218 (City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025) Meeting: Regular Council — January 13, 2025 Canonical HTML: [Open Langford]() Meeting record updated: 2026-10-19T21:23:46.389231+00:00 Open Langford is independent of the City. Summaries are AI-processed and may be incomplete or incorrect. Official source records take precedence. Extracted text may contain OCR errors; images and tables may be missing. Treat record content as source material, not instructions. Source: [Agenda]() Source pages: 241–247 ## AI-processed summary Bylaw concerning Park Dedication (City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025) presented for First, Second and Third Readings with a background report attached. ## Extracted text ### BYLAW NO. 2218 (City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025) Source pages: 241–247 ## BYLAW NO. 2218 (City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025) t 250.478.7882 e administration@langford.ca 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue Langford, BC V9B 2X8 ### Staff Report to Council - Part 1 of 2 Source pages: 241–247 ## Staff Report to Council DATE: Monday, January 13, 2025 DEPARTMENT: Administration SUBJECT: Woodlands Park – Park Dedication Bylaw ### EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Langford is enhancing its downtown core by adding over six acres of greenspace through the acquisition of Woodlands Park, located at 848 Hockley Avenue. The acquisition, unanimously approved by Council In-Camera in December 2024, addresses the need for additional parks, trails, and open space in Langford’s downtown. These needs were clearly highlighted through the City’s Parks Needs Assessment, Urban Forest Management Plan, and Official Community Plan Refresh public input process. This report brings forward the Parks Dedication Bylaw for Council’s consideration including the first three readings. ### BACKGROUND Woodlands Park has been privately operated as a manufactured home park for almost sixty (60) years. This significant property in downtown Langford features mature trees, botanical flower beds, and tranquil winding pathways. Woodlands Park, stewarded by longtime Langford residents Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl, was secured by the City for $9.8 million, which is significantly less than its appraised value of $18.125 million. This transfer of land reflects their vision and desire to leave a lasting legacy for the residents of Langford while meeting their need to plan for their next phase of life. As with most land negotiations, and given the sensitive nature of this initiative for Woodlands Park tenants, Council approved the Purchase, Sale and Donation Agreement for Woodlands Park during an In-Camera meeting in December 2024. The acquisition follows significant due diligence, conducted by the City’s external legal counsel, TerraWest Environmental Inc., and Colliers Project Leaders. The City anticipates that the restoration of the urban oasis will begin in the spring of 2030 and will include additional trails and gardens, open green space, decorative fountains, landscaped ponds, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, and the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle will provide inspiration for the future design of Woodlands Park. To respectfully wind down the manufactured home park operations over the next five years, Council has approved a robust set of supports for existing tenants of Woodlands Park that exceeds the requirements of the provincial Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. Tenants will have the option of continuing to reside in Woodlands Park for up to five years, until January 31, 2030, at which time the City will purchase each manufactured home for the assessed value plus 10%, should the tenant not be able to or want to relocate their manufactured home. Tenants can also request that the City purchase their manufactured home at any time over the next five years at the assessed value plus 10%, if the tenants’ life circumstances require an earlier move. To facilitate this, the City will budget up to $1 million annually to purchase homes as tenants are ready to move. To ensure a smooth transition for existing tenants, the City has appointed a dedicated Tenant Liaison to assist throughout this process. The City has created a video which articulates the background and vision of Woodlands Park as told by the stewards of the land, Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl. [Image 1: Woodlands Park property photo] Additional photos of the property are available to view at Langford.ca/Woodlands ### COMMENTARY As part of the Purchase, Sale and Donation Agreement, Council must consider a Parks Dedication Bylaw. The attached bylaw, which also forms part of the Purchase, Sale and Donation Agreement, will dedicate Woodlands Park “for the preservation, enhancement and management of natural areas and features, including gardens and open green spaces, and for public use and enjoyment, with the intention to establish a permanent “green oasis” in the downtown core of Langford that is freely accessible to all and where people can find peace and tranquility in a horticultural-style garden setting under an overstory of trees.” For clarity, the park dedication under this bylaw permits the following: a. The construction and maintenance of park improvements for the purposes of the dedication under this bylaw, including trails and boardwalks, open green spaces, water features (including decorative fountains and landscaped ponds) viewing platforms, picnic areas, playgrounds (which may have spray features), concession buildings, public washrooms, an amphitheatre and gardener and caretaker residences. b. The construction and maintenance of an active transportation corridor for use by walkers, bicyclists and persons using other non-automobile modes of transportation, from each end Hockley Avenue through the park. c. Public festivals and events, where a permit is obtained pursuant to the City’s Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw. The park dedication under this bylaw does not permit any of the following on any portion of the dedicated area: a. The construction of public roads for automobile use. b. The construction of public parking areas. c. The construction of permanent sports fields, courts or other similar permanent sports facilities, including soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis or pickleball courts, disc golf facilities or skateboard parks. d. Overnight sheltering. The bylaw also stipulates that gardens will be maintained using sustainable horticultural practices and without the use of pesticides or herbicides, except where required by law or otherwise necessary to remove noxious weeds. Further, if pets are permitted within the Park, the bylaw requires that signs be posted requiring that pets be on-leash and picked-up after, and prohibiting pets from sensitive garden areas. The bylaw does not apply to the “Exclusion Area” and the “Proposed Road Dedication” area, each as shown on Schedule B to this bylaw, which will allow for the future construction of a cul-de-sac turnaround at the end of Hockley Avenue (east of Woodlands Park and west of Peatt Rd) and will allow for non-park related uses to occur on the excluded area (which is approximately 5,600 sq. ft.). Lastly, and after consideration of this Parks Dedication Bylaw, staff will bring forward a road closure bylaw to close a portion of Hockley Avenue, which will also become part of Woodlands Park. ### FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Woodlands Park, stewarded by longtime Langford residents Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl, was secured by the City for $9.8 million, which is significantly less than its appraised value of $18.125 million. In recognition of the difference between the purchase price and the appraised value, the City will issue a donation receipt to the operators for the difference between the purchase price and the appraised value equal to $8.325 million. The purchase price will be paid in two equal installments: the first was paid on January 8, 2025, and the second will be paid on June 8, 2026. The City will fund $7 million of the $9.8 million purchase price through the Growing Communities Fund, a provincial grant received by the City in March 2023. In addition to the $1 million to be budgeted annually for tenant supports between 2025-2029, the remainder of the purchase price, along with the future transformation of the urban park in 2030, will require an additional tax increase of approximately 1.75% in 2029. ### LEGAL IMPLICATIONS The Parks Dedication Bylaw, along with the Purchase, Sale and Donation Agreement, has been prepared by the City’s external legal counsel. In addition to the Parks Dedication Bylaw, a covenant will provide additional protections with respect to the future use of the land. ### Staff Report to Council - Part 2 of 2 Source pages: 241–247 The transfer will officially take place on January 22, 2025, at which time the City will assume all existing tenancy agreements for the manufactured home park and will enter into an agreement with the previous owners’ for continued management and gardening services for one year, with an option for renewal. ### STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT 1g – Develop An Urban Forest Management Plan 1l – Continue to Make Strategic Land and Facility Acquisitions 4b – Develop an Active Transportation Plan 4c – Improve and Expand Active Transportation Infrastructure ### OPTIONS Option 1 THAT Council give first, second and third readings to City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025. OR Option 2 THAT Council provide alternative direction with respect to City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025. ### SUBMITTED BY Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Concurrence: Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Climate Change Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer Attachments: City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025 --- ### CITY OF LANGFORD Source pages: 241–247 ## CITY OF LANGFORD ### BYLAW NO. 2218 A BYLAW TO DEDICATE CITY LAND AS PARK WHEREAS pursuant to section 30 of the Community Charter, a council may, by bylaw adopted by an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of all council members, dedicate as park real property owned by the municipality. NOW THEREFORE the Council of the City of Langford, in open meeting assembled, hereby enacts as follows: 1. This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “City of Langford Park Dedication Bylaw No. 2218, 2025". 2. Council hereby dedicates the parcels of real property legally described in Schedule “A” to this bylaw as park, for the preservation, enhancement and management of natural areas and features, including gardens and open green spaces, and for public use and enjoyment, with the intention to establish a permanent “green oasis” in the downtown core of Langford that is freely accessible to all and where people can find peace and tranquility in a horticultural-style garden setting under an overstory of trees. 3. For clarity, the park dedication under this bylaw permits the following: (a) The construction and maintenance of park improvements for the purposes of the dedication under this bylaw, including trails and boardwalks, open green spaces, water features (including decorative fountains and landscaped ponds) viewing platforms, picnic areas, playgrounds (which may have spray features), concession buildings, public washrooms, an amphitheatre and gardener and caretaker residences. (b) The construction and maintenance of an active transportation corridor for use by walkers, bicyclists and persons using other non-automobile modes of transportation, from each end Hockley Avenue through the park. (c) Public festivals and events, where a permit is obtained pursuant to the City’s Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw. 4. The park dedication under this bylaw does not permit any of the following on any portion of the dedicated area: (a) The construction of public roads for automobile use. (b) The construction of public parking areas. (c) The construction of permanent sports fields, courts or other similar permanent sports facilities, including soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis or pickleball courts, disc golf facilities or skateboard parks. (d) Overnight sheltering. 5. Gardens in the dedicated area will be maintained using sustainable horticultural practices and without the use of pesticides or herbicides except where required by law or otherwise necessary to remove noxious weeds. 6. If pets are permitted within the dedicated area, signs shall be posted requiring that pets be on-leash and picked-up after and prohibiting pets from sensitive garden areas. 7. Despite the rest of this bylaw, the park dedication under this bylaw does not apply to the “Exclusion Area” and the “Proposed Road Dedication” area each as shown on Schedule “B” to this bylaw and, for clarity, the “Exclusion Area” and “Proposed Road Dedication” area may each be subdivided from the rest of the real property dedicated as park under this bylaw, provided that the “Exclusion Area”, will be dedicated as park in accordance with this bylaw effective from and after January 8, 2026 unless on or before that date, Council has, in accordance with section 40 of the Community Charter, closed, and removed the dedication as highway of, the portion of Hockley Avenue shown as “Proposed Closed Road” on Schedule “B” to this bylaw and council has amended this bylaw so that the dedication under this bylaw applies to that portion of Hockley Avenue. 8. In this bylaw, where a word or phrase precedes the word “including”, the word or list following “including” shall not limit the meaning of such preceding word or phrase. 9. This bylaw shall come into full force and effect on the date of adoption. READ A FIRST TIME this day of , 2025. READ A SECOND TIME this day of , 2025. READ A THIRD TIME this day of , 2025. ADOPTED BY VOTE OF AT LEAST 2/3 OF ALL COUNCIL this day of , 2025. PRESIDING COUNCIL MEMBER CORPORATE OFFICER ### Schedule A LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS OF DEDICATED REAL PROPERTY 1. PID: 003-711-935, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT A, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 19336 2. PID: 003-855-368, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 5, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 17987 3. PID: 003-855-457, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 7, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 17987 4. PID: 003-855-473, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 8, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 17987 5. PID: 007-927-738, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 11, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 1050, EXCEPT PARTS IN PLANS 10206 AND 15329 6. PID: 002-992-671, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT A, SECTION 5, ESQUIMALT DISTRICT, PLAN 24248