Regional Municipality of Waterloo - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

Instrument type: Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

ERO number
019-5952
Ministry reference number
30-OP-222206
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Notice stage
Decision
Decision posted
Comment period
December 5, 2022 - January 4, 2023 (30 days) Closed
Last updated

This consultation was open from:
December 5, 2022
to January 4, 2023

Decision summary

A decision was made on April 11, 2023 to approve, with modifications, Official Plan Amendment 6 to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Official Plan, as adopted by By-law 22-038. Official Plan Amendment 6 contains policies to guide growth and development within the Region to the year 2051.

Location details

Site address

All lands within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo
ON
Canada

Site location details

Official Plan Amendment 6 applies to all lands within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

Site location map

The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.

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Proponent(s)

Regional Municipality of Waterloo
150 Federick Street
Kitchener, ON
N2G 4J3
Canada

Decision details

A decision was made on April 11, 2023 to approve, with twelve (12) modifications, Official Plan Amendment 6 to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Official Plan adopted pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law 22-038. Notice of Decision was issued on April 11, 2023, to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

The adopted Official Plan Amendment was reviewed for consistency and conformity with provincial policies and plans and regard for matters of provincial interest set out in the Planning Act.

The twelve (12) modifications to the Official Plan Amendment have been made to address provincial policy direction related to accommodating residential growth and housing options, settlement areas, employment areas, and Additional Residential Units, among other matters.

Regional Municipality of Waterloo Official Plan Amendment 6 establishes the planning framework in the Regional Official Plan to accommodate forecasted population and employment growth to the year 2051. Official Plan Amendment 6 implements policies addressing land use planning, transportation, public transit, water and wastewater supply and services, public health, economic development, and affordable housing, as well as other growth and development matters.

Official Plan Amendment 6 also proposes decreasing the minimum density target of 160 residents and jobs combined per hectare for three (3) of the Region of Waterloo's Major Transit Stations Areas: Laurier-Waterloo Park (to 95 residents and jobs combined per hectare), Block Line (to 80), and Delta (to 120) due to development constraints. Major Transit Station Areas are generally defined as the area within about a 10-minute walk to a major transit station or stop.

Pursuant to subsections 17(36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and not subject to appeal. Accordingly, the Official Plan Amendment, as approved with modifications by the Minister, came into effect on April 12, 2023.

The growth planning policies and mapping changes of Official Plan Amendment 6 apply to all lands within the Region of Waterloo.

Comments received

Through the registry

269

By email

150

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

Public comments received by the Ministry generally voiced support for the adopted Official Plan Amendment or requested settlement area boundary expansions, employment area conversions and policy modifications for various properties across the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

All comments received were taken into consideration prior to a decision being made.

Supporting materials

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Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office - Western Ontario
Address

659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London, ON
N6E 1L3
Canada

Office phone number

How to Appeal

Appeals are not allowed

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Original proposal

ERO number
019-5952
Ministry reference number
30-OP-222206
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Proposal posted

Comment period

December 5, 2022 - January 4, 2023 (30 days)

Proposal details

On August 18, 2022, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo adopted Official Plan Amendment 6 by By-law 09-025. The official plan amendment is now before the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.

Official Plan Amendment 6 proposes to establish the planning framework in the Regional Official Plan to accommodate forecasted population and employment growth to the year 2051 and to implement the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement, A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (A Place to Grow), and the Greenbelt Plan, across the Region. Official Plan Amendment 6 proposes policies addressing land use planning, transportation, public transit, water and wastewater supply and services, public health, economic development, and affordable housing, as well as other growth and development matters.

Official Plan Amendment 6 also proposes decreasing the minimum density target of 160 residents and jobs combined per hectare for three (3) of the Region of Waterloo's Major Transit Stations Areas: Laurier-Waterloo Park (to 95 residents and jobs combined per hectare), Block Line (to 80), and Delta (to 120) due to development constraints. Major Transit Station Areas are generally defined as the area within about a 10-minute walk to a major transit station or stop.

Under the Places to Grow Act, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is responsible for making a decision on the Region of Waterloo's request for lower density targets within Major Transit Station Areas.

If approved, the policy and mapping changes of Official Plan Amendment 6 would apply across the Region of Waterloo.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office - Western Ontario
Address

659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London, ON
N6E 1L3
Canada

Office phone number

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from December 5, 2022
to January 4, 2023

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