City of Cambridge - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

On January 29, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received for a decision the City of Cambridge's Official Plan Amendment 87 (OPA 87), which was adopted by City Council on December 3, 2024, by By-law 24-123.

The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23) made changes that removed statutory powers under the Planning Act from seven upper-tier municipalities identified in the legislation. The effective date for the Region of Waterloo was January 1, 2025. As such, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is now the approval authority for official plans and official plan amendments for lower-tier municipalities in the Region of Waterloo.

The Ministry will review the matter for consistency with applicable provincial land use policies and will consider all feedback received before recommendations are provided to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act.

OPA 87 as initiated by Dryden, Smith & Head Planning Consultants Limited proposes to add Site-Specific Policy 8.10.122 to permit a maximum density of 61 units per hectare for land designated as Low / Medium Density Residential in the City of Cambridge Official Plan. The amendment will facilitate a 6-unit residential development on lands municipally known as 36 Elliott Street.

The effect of this amendment will permit a 6-unit residential development.