Growing Together East

Since May, staff have been working to develop the Draft Land Use and Zoning Maps for the Block Line, Fairway, and Sportsworld Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). The draft approach to growth and change combines public and collaborator feedback.

It also aligns with key City objectives to:

• Address the housing crisis by improving housing choice and affordability in Kitchener’s MTSAs
• Address the climate emergency by creating transit-supportive communities. This includes maximizing the use of existing infrastructure and leveraging new infrastructure.
• Encourage a shift towards active transportation and transit within complete communities that provide for daily needs
• Help bring more people, activity, life and diversity to Kitchener’s MTSAs

The draft land use and zoning maps recommend carrying forward the Strategic Growth Area land uses and zones approved by City Council for Kitchener’s seven other MTSAs. Strategic Growth Areas allow a wide variety of housing types and mix of uses within Major Transit Station Areas.

Draft materials now available

Please view the Draft Land Use Map and Draft Zoning Map for a full description of the proposed changes. These draft materials are not final. Changes may be made based on continued dialogue with residents, industry collaborators, and agencies.

The Official Plan policies for Strategic Growth Area land uses can be found in Section 15.D.2 of the Official Plan beginning on page 171.

You can also view the Draft Zoning Bylaw for Strategic Growth Area zones. This Bylaw is currently under appeal.

Staff are happy to answer questions about these materials. Please contact us at GrowingTogether@kitchener.ca

Next steps

A complete set of draft materials will be published on this page by February 2025. This will include an:

• Official Plan Amendment
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment
• Engagement Summary
• Any additional policies, regulations or holding provisions that may apply

Beginning February 2025, staff will offer one-on-one meetings to discuss site-specific opportunities and review landowner submissions. See below for submission requirements.

We will then consider all comments and submissions as part of our final report to City Council in Q2 2025. Comments, questions and submissions can be emailed to GrowingTogether@kitchener.ca.

Landowner submission requirements

Landowners within the Study Area can provide written submissions about specific properties. If a request is made for a site-specific change, landowners must submit materials that meet the following criteria:

• Proof of lot ownership
• A conceptual design that demonstrates compliance with the desired zone and refers to the zone standards approved through Growing Together West
• A scoped planning justification addressing Official Plan Policy 15.D.2.5, which requires:
  • a demonstration of compatibility with the planned function of the lands and adjacent lands
  • suitability of the lot for the proposed use or built form
  • lot consolidation
  • compliance with Kitchener’s Urban Design Manual and Official Plan urban design policies
  • consideration of cultural heritage resources

Submit questions, comments and landowner submissions at any time to GrowingTogether@kitchener.ca

Still to come

The City is undertaking a Market Analysis Study and Transportation and Noise Study. This will inform any other policies or regulations that may be required within the Study Area. For example, holding provisions may be required for individual properties where a noise study is required or to address future traffic considerations.

We’re hosting a series of drop-in sessions that explore, through a hands-on activity, how the Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) at Block Line, Fairway and Sportsworld could grow and change.

During the drop-in sessions, City staff will be sharing information about the amount of growth we’ll need to accommodate within the next ten years. Please feel free to drop-in any time during the above sessions and stay as briefly or as long as you like.

• Saturday June 22, 2024, 12 to 8 p.m. at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival (Victoria Park)
• Tuesday July 9, 2024, 3 p.m to 7 p.m. at Fairway LRT Station (next to LRT platform)
• Saturday July 13, 2024, 7 a.m to 2 p.m. at Kitchener Market (300 King Street East)

Other engagement dates and times will be added as they are scheduled. To be notified when those dates are announced, subscribe for updates. Add your email to the Stay Informed box and click 'Subscribe'.