The Corporation of the City of Kitchener - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

On March 3, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received for a decision the City of Kitchener's Official Plan Amendment 59 (OPA 59), which was adopted by City Council on December 16, 2024, by By- law 2024-212.

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 59 proposes to modify the commencement date of Inclusionary Zoning within Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026.