Expand and enable “missing middle” transit supportive housing options in the Sugarbush South neighbourhood, near the City’s post secondary institutions and public transit.
The City is looking to enable more “missing middle” transit supportive housing options to be built in the Sugarbush South neighbourhood in a two-part process as shown in the map below.
Component 1 – Expansion of Columbia Street West Minor Corridor (Area A)
Through Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 58, the Minor Corridor expansion has been given a Medium Rise Residential designation in the Official Plan which enables missing middle development up to six storeys and 450 bedrooms per hectare. OPA 58 was approved by City Council in December 2024, and is now before the Province of Ontario for review. Until a decision is made by the Province, it is not in effect. Learn more about OPA 58.
The next phase of this initiative will evaluate the merits of an increase to eight storeys and 600 bedrooms per hectare through “bonusing” like policies by way of a subsequent Official Plan Amendment. An amendment to the Zoning By-law will happen concurrently to implement the Columbia Street West Minor Corridor expansion.
Component 2 – Enabling of Missing Middle Housing (Area B)
This component involves enabling missing middle housing by way of an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment. Staff contemplate a planning framework that would facilitate development similar to what canbe seen in the interior of the Northdale neighbourhood, being multi-unit buildings up to six storeys with a
maximum density of 450 bedrooms per hectare (600 bedrooms per hectare with “bonusing” like policies).
Existing Medium Density Residential properties will be evaluated to determine if multi-unit buildings up to eight
storeys in height is appropriate.
Follow this page to learn about future engagement opportunities and project updates. You can also request to be placed on the project email list by emailing Tanja.Curic@waterloo.ca.
Key actions:
Component 1 – Minor Corridor Expansion by way of Official Plan Review process
- Formal Public Meeting and Council consideration of Official Plan modifications by way of Official Plan Amendment (December 2, 2024).
- Zoning By-law Amendment to implement the Minor Corridor expansion and a medium rise framework, as well as an Official Plan Amendment (winter 2026).
Component 2 – Enabling Missing Middle Housing
- Staff report including planning framework recommendations to Council to enable missing middle housing (February 10, 2025).
- Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment process to enable missing middle housing in the neighbourhood (winter 2026).
HAF Grant Net new units: 50
HAF Grant Implementation timeline: December 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026
Return to City of Waterloo Housing Accelerator Fund page.
