February 24, 2026 Update (Tentative):

This is the planned date for a public hearing on the Chemtrade rezoning application.

• Date: February 24, 2026
• Time: 7pm
• Location: DNV Municipal Hall

Confirm the date & time on the DNV website a week before the event.

January 13, 2026 Update:

The Chemtrade rezoning application formally came before the DNV Council on the evening of January 12th for the first time. DNV staff were recommending the bylaw be given first reading and referring it to a public hearing. Such a meeting is not actually required, but everyone seemed to agree it is a good idea, and staff noted that public participation and input on this issue has been low.

Council unanimously agreed with the DNV staff recommendation, and the public hearing date is tentatively set for February 24th.

Most of the discussion was in support of the effort. A few questions were raised, however. Some concerned the future – in 2044 – when the lease from the Port of Vancouver might expire. There were a few questions about the normal procedure in cases like this, and it appears the DNV is following the usual path. Some concerns were raised about what happens when the chlorine is put on rail cars and what the safety of those is. Finally, one councillor was concerned that not enough documentation was available, raised issues around the last time this plant had an application before the District, and worried about whether or not the public was prepared enough to handle an emergency properly.

January 9, 2026 Update:

The DNV Council will review a bylaw at their January 12 meeting that would grant Chemtrade the ability to continue producing chlorine at their facility at 100 Amherst Avenue. Council will decide whether to give the bylaw first reading and whether or not to review it to a public hearing.

October 15, 2025 Update:

Chemtrade submitted their rezoning application to the DNV on September 25, 2025. Their Oct 2025 Newsletter and their Rezoning Flyer describe the application and the process that happens next. See those publications for more details, but in a nutshell:

• Information about their application can be found here on the DNV website: https://www.dnv.org/business-development/100-amherst-avenue as of Oct 22.
• There will be a virtual public meeting Oct 27 – Nov 7, available at www.DNV.org/public-meeting
• There will be an in-person information meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Suites, North Vancouver, located at 700 Old Lillooet Rd, North Vancouver, BC.
• Their documents say the typical time to go from application submission to final approval is 15-20 months.

April 10, 2025 Update:

As announced in this press release, Chemtrade has received a non-binding letter of intent from the Port of Vancouver that is the first step in extending their lease and allowing them to continue producing chlorine at their facility through December 31, 2044. Nothing is final yet. Chemtrade still needs zoning approval from the DNV, among other things.

February 12, 2025 Update:

Chemtrade is once again offering tours of their facility for those interested in learning more about what they do. Your editor took such a tour in 2024 and found it very informative. Tours are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis and generally happen between 9:30 and 11 am. If you are interested, contact Amy Jonsson at ajonsson@chemtradelogistics.com to schedule a tour.

December 11, 2024 Update:

Chemtrade’s fourth Community Update (see below) discussed their need to apply for rezoning to improve their safety systems and reduce risk from the activities on site. They expect to submit the application to the DNV in the spring of 2025. There will be public engagement opportunities that go with this application.

Overview:

Chemtrade makes chlorine at their Amherst Avenue site, largely for use in purifying drinking water. Their current lease allows chlorine production until July 2030, and they are looking for a “long-term” lease extension. 

Chlorine gas is a highly toxic chemical, and its production carries risk. That said, it is also highly useful, and all of Metro Vancouver’s drinking water is purified with chlorine made at this plant. Many other water utilities use chlorine from the same source.

The decision to extend the lease – or not – isn’t a simple one, as there is no clearly obvious answer. The documents referenced on this page may be helpful to those seeking information to help them come to an informed decision.

The government entities making the decision about renewing that lease are the Port of Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver. We’re told the DNV is reviewing the issue and looking for public input at this time.

If you’d like to make a comment to the District, you can send an email to the Mayor and Council, or you can attend a meeting and ask to speak on the topic for up to three minutes.

The Port of Vancouver has a Contact Us page on their website.