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

On January 6, 2025, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received for a decision the City of Cambridge's Official Plan Amendment 49 (OPA 49), which was adopted by the City's Council on November 9, 2021, by By-law 21-076. 

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 49 as initiated by 50 Shade Street Investments Incorporated proposes to add Site-Specific Policy 8.10.86 to permit both residential and commercial uses at grade within a multi-storey mixed-use apartment building for land designated Community Core Area in the City of Cambridge Official Plan. The amendment will facilitate a mixed-use development with 445 residential units and commercial uses on lands municipally known as 55 Kerr Street. 

The effect of this amendment will permit a multi-storey mixed-use apartment building with residential and commercial uses at grade.