Growing Together East
The City of Kitchener is growing, and a lot of that growth is happening in the areas around the ION LRT system.
On March 18, 2024, Kitchener City Council approved the first phase, Growing Together West. This included Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law amendments to introduce new Strategic Growth Area (SGA) land uses and zones and apply them within seven of Kitchener’s 10 Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs).
The final phase, Growing Together East, will update the planning framework for the remaining three MTSAs: Block Line, Fairway, and Sportsworld.
This project will enable and encourage responsible growth for many years to come. By participating, you will gain a greater understanding of the factors influencing growth and change in our city and Kitchener’s obligations to plan for this growth.
Stay informed
If you would like to get email updates about this project, add your email to the Stay Informed section and click ‘Subscribe’.
The City of Kitchener is growing, and a lot of that growth is happening in the areas around the ION LRT system.
On March 18, 2024, Kitchener City Council approved the first phase, Growing Together West. This included Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law amendments to introduce new Strategic Growth Area (SGA) land uses and zones and apply them within seven of Kitchener’s 10 Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs).
The final phase, Growing Together East, will update the planning framework for the remaining three MTSAs: Block Line, Fairway, and Sportsworld.
This project will enable and encourage responsible growth for many years to come. By participating, you will gain a greater understanding of the factors influencing growth and change in our city and Kitchener’s obligations to plan for this growth.
Stay informed
If you would like to get email updates about this project, add your email to the Stay Informed section and click ‘Subscribe’.
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New draft materials, public open house and staff office hours
Share New draft materials, public open house and staff office hours on Facebook Share New draft materials, public open house and staff office hours on Twitter Share New draft materials, public open house and staff office hours on Linkedin Email New draft materials, public open house and staff office hours link07 Feb 2025A photo from the Growing Together East workshop at the Fairway ION Station
What we heard
We held a series of community engagement events in summer and early fall 2024. Overall, we heard there is broad support for growth and intensification within these station areas. Residents also said it’s critical the City builds parks and open spaces, local retail and grocery, walkable streets, and community spaces to support that growth. A summary report, including the results from each event, is now available.
Public open house
Planning staff will be hosting a public open house in the Conestoga Room located on the first floor of City Hall on February 26th, from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Staff from the Growing Together East team will be available to take your questions and receive your comments.
Come and talk to us one-on-one about your property or give us your feedback on the things that matter to you!
This public open house also provides an opportunity for you to learn more about the proposed planning framework that will guide growth and change within Kitchener's Block Line, Fairway and Sportsworld Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs).
Where: Conestoga Room, 1st Floor, Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St. W.
When: Wednesday, February 26th between 4:00pm and 7:00pm
You can also provide your questions and comments to us via email at GrowingTogether@kitchener.ca(External link) by February 28, 2025.
Draft materials
New draft materials are now available. This includes a Land Use and Zoning Brief with draft Official Plan Policies and Zoning By-law Regulations.
These policies and regulations are specific to the Block Line, Fairway and/or Sportsworld PMTSAs. They are in addition to those approved through the Official Plan Policies(External link) (primarily Section 15.D.2) and Zoning By-law Regulations that were part of Growing Together West.
The Land Use and Zoning Brief contains critical information for landowners, developers and consultants. Please review it in detail.
Read the Land Use and Zoning Brief
Other materials in this update include:
- Transportation Background and Methodology Memo
- Noise Study Background and Methodology Memo
- Market Study Background and Existing Conditions Memo
- Draft Priority Streets Map
- Draft Land Use Map
- Draft Zoning Map
Staff Office Hours
Staff are available to meet with landowners to discuss property-specific requests. Interested landowners may book a 30-minute appointment on:
- Tuesday, Feb. 11 between 1 and 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb 13 between 1 and 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 18 between 1 and 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 20 between 1 and 4 p.m.
To book, email us with your preferred dates and times at GrowingTogether@kitchener.ca(External link).
Interested in making a submission on a property you own? Please read the instructions below.
Landowner submission requirements
Landowners within the Study Area can provide written submissions about specific properties. We can accept submissions until February 28, 2025.
Requests for site-specific changes must include materials that meet the following criteria:
- Proof of lot ownership
- A conceptual design that:
- complies with the desired zone
- refers to the zone standards approved through Growing Together West
- A scoped planning justification addressing Official Plan(External link) 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
Please note
These draft materials are not final. Continued dialogue with residents and industry and agency collaborators may result in changes. For example, this could include updates such as:
- applying holding provisions to individual properties where a record of site condition or a noise study is required
- changes based on the landowner submissions process
- new building height requirements in response to comments from the Region of Waterloo on behalf of the Region of Waterloo International Airport
Staff will consider all comments and submissions as part of our report to City Council in spring 2025.
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Draft land use and zoning maps now available
Share Draft land use and zoning maps now available on Facebook Share Draft land use and zoning maps now available on Twitter Share Draft land use and zoning maps now available on Linkedin Email Draft land use and zoning maps now available link08 Nov 2024Since 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(External link).
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(External link)
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(External link).
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(External link)
- A scoped planning justification addressing Official Plan Policy 15.D.2.5(External link), 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(External link)
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.
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Visit us at a drop-in session this summer
Share Visit us at a drop-in session this summer on Facebook Share Visit us at a drop-in session this summer on Twitter Share Visit us at a drop-in session this summer on Linkedin Email Visit us at a drop-in session this summer link14 Jun 2024We’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'.
Follow Project
Lifecycle
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Learn more
Growing Together East has finished this stageAttend an upcoming workshop or review this page to learn more about growth and development around the ION LRT stations.
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Closed for review
Growing Together East has finished this stageContributions to this project are closed while we review your comments and prepare the draft framework.
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Draft framework available
Growing Together East is currently at this stageThe draft land use and zoning framework is now available for your comments.
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Closed for review
this is an upcoming stage for Growing Together EastConsultation is closed for review while we prepare our final report.
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Report to Council
this is an upcoming stage for Growing Together EastWe are presenting our final report to Council.
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Project complete
this is an upcoming stage for Growing Together EastThis project is complete and the outcomes are documented on this page.
Key Dates
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February 11 → February 20 2025
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February 26 2025
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February 28 2025
Supporting Documents
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Draft Land Use Map (Feb. 2025) (1.67 MB) (pdf)
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Draft Zoning Map (Feb. 2025) (1.51 MB) (pdf)
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Growing Together East - Land Use and Zoning Brief (Feb. 2025) (180 KB) (pdf)
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Priority Streets Draft Map (Feb. 2025) (1.57 MB) (pdf)
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Engagement Summary (Feb. 2025) (12.7 MB) (pdf)
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Technical Background Reports
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Strategic Growth Area Zoning (Mar. 2024) (4.47 MB) (pdf)
Videos
Who's Listening
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Manager, Policy and Research
Phone 519-741-2345 (TTY:1-866-969-9994) Email growingtogether@kitchener.ca (External link) -
Senior Urban Designer (Architecture and Urban Form)
Phone 519-741-2345 (TTY:1-866-969-9994) Email growingtogether@kitchener.ca (External link) -
Senior Planner, Policy and Research
Phone 519-741-2345 (TTY:1-866-969-9994) Email growingtogether@kitchener.ca (External link) -
Planner, Policy and Research
Phone 519-741-2345 (TTY:1-866-969-9994) Email growingtogether@kitchener.ca (External link)