CSD-11-133 - Kitchener Growth Management Strategy 2011 Annual Monitoring Rept

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Kitchener Growth Management Strategy 2011 Annual Monitoring Report CSD-11-133 1.0 Executive Summary Growth management is a community priority. In response to numerous directions, including Compass Kitchener and the "Who-are-you-Kitchener" surveys, Kitchener City Council approved the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS) in support of the City's Strategic Plan. Kitchener is expected to accommodate a relatively significant amount of residential and employment growth over the next twenty years. We are also mandated by the Province to achieve certain numerical targets and other planning objectives. Although other municipalities have established growth management programs, Kitchener is on the leading edge with respect to the ability to track and monitor specific growth data in a dynamic manner. As part of Kitchener's ongoing growth management program the intent is to continually refine the data, improve the dynamic capabilities and provide information to help support numerous corporate studies and infrastructure projects. A `snapshot' of the data is contained within this KGMS - 2011 Annual Monitoring Report. The results of the updated growth management data are encouraging. The number of residents and jobs per hectare (RJs/ha) in the Urban Growth Centre (Downtown) is gradually increasing from approximately 151 RJs/ha last year to approximately 160 RJs/ha. This is an excellent step towards achieving the provincially-mandated target of 200 RJs/ha by 2031. Another significant achievement is that the amount of residential development occurring in the Built-up Area is 56%. This now brings the 5 year average to 41% which is very close to the target for urban municipalities within this region. The City and other partners have undertaken significant efforts over the past decade to support intensification which are now contributing to positive results. 2.0 Introduction In 2009, Council approved the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS). The KGMS provides a framework for planning where and how future residential and employment growth can be accommodated in Kitchener while positively contributing to our quality of life. The goals and actions outlined in the KGMS support the provincial 1 2-4 Downtown -King Street Adaptive Reuse -Lang Tannery Warehouse District