Province bypasses Region of Waterloo planning to open more land for development
The province is making space for development within Waterloo Region in an effort to ease the housing crisis but to do so, it is overriding the Official Plan agreed to by regional councillors.
On Tuesday, the province sent a letter to the Region indicating hundreds of hectares of land not currently set for development until 2051, are now open to developers.
It was a surprise decision that has the Region working to determine the full impacts.
“I would tell you that’s why we’re still delving into exactly what the plan entails,” said Karen Redman, regional chair.
Even in overriding the Official Plan, Redman said the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, affirmed the Region’s planning principles as it works to build 15-minute communities.
Though, Redman said it’s a balancing act to address the housing affordability crisis.
“It’s not just infill. It’s not just building up,” said Redman. “We recognize that there will still be people who will be looking for the kind of Greenfield, suburban development that currently exists in the region.”
Berry Vrbanovic, the mayor of Kitchener, also stressed that key boundary lines drawn by the Region are in tact.
“I think the main parts of the Regional Official Plan have been adopted and that includes things like protecting the Countryside Line, things like protecting things like the major transit areas in the city of Kitchener,” he said
Brian Doucet, with the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, believes the move is unnecessary to meet the demand of a growing community.
Waterloo Region is projected to grow to nearly one million people in the next three decades.
“We can build denser,” said Doucet. “We can build on sites that are underdeveloped, parking lots for example. We need to maximize that because in the long run, that’s far cheaper. That’s cheaper for municipalities to service and that also means people’s property taxes don’t have to rise as much.”
Premier Doug Ford was in Kitchener on Thursday for a funding announcement but also addressed the topic of housing.
“People just can’t keep saying no, we don’t want people. It just doesn’t work,” said Ford. “We have to grow. If we said no to everything, one time or another, years back, I’m sure this was farming as well, but we have more land than we know what to do with in Ontario.”
When asked by CTV News if there were any other plans for the province to step in and change the Region’s planning further, Ford said it’s up to the minister of municipal affairs, who will work closely with local mayors.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE Federal government to announce funding to help Toronto host six 2026 World Cup games
The federal government is set to announce funding to help Toronto host six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
Tiger Woods gets special exemption to U.S. Open at Pinehurst
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
'Bare-adise' adventure: This nude cruise is due to set sail from Miami in 2025
What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from tour and travel company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.
Drew Barrymore explains how she accidentally left a list of her romantic partners at Danny DeVito's house
Danny DeVito had the opportunity to know way more about Drew Barrymore than the rest of us.