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Urban Design Manual refresh

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The City of Waterloo is excited to announce the Urban Design Manual refresh!

The Urban Design Manual (UDM) is the City of Waterloo's primary consolidated set of design standards, design related criteria, and reference material to help guide the implementation of the City’s urban design and built form policies. Adopted by Council in 2009, the UDM continues to play a critical role in the development review process, as well as for public realm improvement initiatives throughout the city. After more than 10 years since its adoption, the UDM is due for a refresh!

Preliminary objectives include:

We encourage everyone to be involved as we move forward!

We look forward to your participation in this important planning process, and invite you to familiarize yourself with the existing Urban Design Manual and other documents in preparation. As we move into Phase 2 of this project, we are planning for various consultation and engagement opportunities with industry practitioners, municipal staff, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

If you wish to be notified of future UDM Refresh notices and public documents, please subscribe to follow our project. You can also email the project team at udmrefresh@waterloo.ca.

The City of Waterloo is excited to announce the Urban Design Manual refresh!

The Urban Design Manual (UDM) is the City of Waterloo's primary consolidated set of design standards, design related criteria, and reference material to help guide the implementation of the City’s urban design and built form policies. Adopted by Council in 2009, the UDM continues to play a critical role in the development review process, as well as for public realm improvement initiatives throughout the city. After more than 10 years since its adoption, the UDM is due for a refresh!

Preliminary objectives include:

We encourage everyone to be involved as we move forward!

We look forward to your participation in this important planning process, and invite you to familiarize yourself with the existing Urban Design Manual and other documents in preparation. As we move into Phase 2 of this project, we are planning for various consultation and engagement opportunities with industry practitioners, municipal staff, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

If you wish to be notified of future UDM Refresh notices and public documents, please subscribe to follow our project. You can also email the project team at udmrefresh@waterloo.ca.

  • Amendments adopted

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    The Part 1 Amendments to the UDM as presented to City Council on June 28th 2021 were adopted unanimously, and the existing UDM will be revised accordingly. The revised UDM will replace the current UDM as the primary Urban Design Guideline for the City on an interim basis until the completion of the Part 2 full UDM Refresh.

    The UDM amendments mean the revised document will now reflect the city’s Strategic Plan, by incorporating new strategic objectives relate to the themes of equity and inclusion, environmental stewardship, sustainability, and safety. The revised UDM will also incorporate approved strategies and plans such as the Uptown Public Realm Strategy, update references to align with current standards (e.g., City of Waterloo Accessibility Standards 2016), and advance minor amendments related to exterior design.

    The detailed amendments are available in the appendix to the staff report. They are primarily updates to outdated language references, new references to better implement the City’s Strategic Plan, and advances minor amendments related to, but not limited to:

    • Zoning By-law 2018-050;
    • exterior design (e.g., façade and building material innovation);
    • high order transit station area planning; and,
    • the Uptown Public Realm Strategy.



Page last updated: 23 Aug 2021, 09:18 AM