HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2025-084 - Kitchener 2051 - Evaluating Approaches to GrowthStaff Report
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Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee
DATE OF MEETING: March 17, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Rosa Bustamante, Director, Planning & Housing Policy/City Planner,
(519) 783-8929
PREPARED BY: John Zunic, Senior Planner, Policy & Research, 519- 783-8952
Tim Donegani, Senior Planner, Policy & Research, (519) 783-8932
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: March 7, 2025
REPORT NO.: DSD -2025-084
SUBJECT: Kitchener 2051 — Evaluating Approaches to Growth
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Community Parameters and Technical Evaluation Criteria as presented in
Report DSD -2025-084 be used to inform continued community and collaborator
engagement on Kitchener 2051 and approaches to growth.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
• The purpose of this report is to seek Council's endorsement of the draft Community
Parameters and Evaluation Criteria which will be used to support upcoming community
engagement and technical analysis.
• There are no financial implications arising from this report.
• Kitchener 2051 includes a robust 4 -phase community engagement process that builds
on the Strategic Plan. The Kitchener 2051 Community Working Group, alongside other
Council, community, and collaborator input has helped to shape Community Parameters
and Technical Evaluation Criteria which will form the basis of community engagement in
Spring 2025 as part of evaluating different approaches to growth.
• This report supports Building a Connected City Together: Focuses on
neighbourhoods; housing and ensuring secure, affordable homes; getting around
easily, sustainably and safely to the places and spaces that matter.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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BACKGROUND:
The History of Growth Management in Kitchener
Kitchener has a long history of responsible growth management dating back to the 1960s,
when our population of 100,000 residents was forecasted to double in 20 years. The
"Kitchener 2000 — A Regional Concept" was completed in 1964 to stage development in a
"logical economic means" that would "closely relate to the financial ability for the City to
provide infrastructure". This set the stage for what was known as the "Staging of
Development" process for coordinating new subdivision growth in Kitchener.
In the early 2000s, the Staging of Development process evolved to the "Kitchener Growth
Management Strategy" to forecast growth to 2031, including strategies for managing growth
within the existing built-up area of the City (i.e., infill and intensification). The Kitchener
Growth Management Strategy remains in place today, and at regular intervals, a Growth
Management Plan is created to prioritize and align development approvals with infrastructure
and complete community objectives. Additionally, an annual growth management monitoring
report has been prepared each year since 2010 that provides a snapshot of Kitchener's
growth and its achievements toward provincial growth targets, including the Annual Growth
Monitoring Report for 2024 (DSD -2025-101) that is being presented to Council on March 17,
2025.
Looking Ahead
As Kitchener grows to become a city of up to 450,000 residents by 2051 (reflecting an
average annual growth rate of 1.5 percent), a new Official Plan is needed. A new Official
Plan will guide where people live and work and shape the way that neighbourhoods evolve
and change over time. It will be ambitious and intentional as we plan for the Kitchener of
2051 and set the stage for the next iteration of growth management planning in the City.
On February 10, 2025, a Council Strategic Session (DSD -2025-061) was held to present the
Community Values and seek Council's input on the draft Big Ideas and Focus Areas which
will help shape Kitchener's new Official Plan.
This Report is being brought forward to Council alongside "Engaging on Approaches to
Growth (Kitchener 2051)" (DSD -2025-091).
REPORT:
Studying Approaches to Growth
Kitchener 2051 will inform where and how we grow from a range of perspectives, including
the environment, the economy, infrastructure capacity, and fostering complete communities.
Two technical studies will:
• Confirm the number of residents and jobs to plan for in 2051.
• Inform Where and how Kitchener will grow to accommodate the forecasted
population and jobs.
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The "Population and Employment Forecast Study" prepared by Watson & Associates has
confirmed the population and employment forecasts set out in the Regional Official Plan,
finding that Kitchener is expected to grow to a population of 446,000 residents (reflecting an
average annual growth rate of 1.5 per cent, much less than what has occurred on an annual
basis in recent years).
The "Growth Scenarios Study" being undertaken collaboratively between City staff, with
support from Dillon Consulting, CIMA+, and Watson & Associates, will determine where and
how we will grow to accommodate this growth. This Study includes technical analyses
related to transportation, water, wastewater, and financial implications to inform decisions
about how and where we grow.
Evaluating Approaches to Growth
Determining the preferred approach to growth — which will be the key driver of the new
Official Plan, will be shaped by multiple inputs, including:
• Community Parameters — informed by the Community Values, Kitchener 2051
Community Working Group input, and best / emerging practices, Community
Parameters will help facilitate conversations with the community about trade-offs and
opportunities about how and where Kitchener will grow in the future.
• Technical Evaluation Criteria — informed by the Kitchener 2051 technical studies
and modelling, Technical Evaluation Criteria will enable analysis of each approach to
growth and identification of opportunities or constraints needing to be addressed.
• Council Direction & Cross -Divisional Staff Priorities — informed by regular and
ongoing engagement.
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The evaluation process is anticipated to result in a preferred approach to growth which
reflects a composite of all three of the approaches, refined based on the evaluation process.
The evaluation process may also identify policy interventions which are required.
The approaches to growth which will be evaluated are introduced in "Engaging on
Approaches to Growth (Kitchener 2051)" DSD -2025-091.
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Engaging on Approaches to Growth
Community Parameters
Community Parameters will help facilitate conversations with the community about trade-offs
and opportunities related to how and where Kitchener will grow in the future. The Community
Parameters are not intended to be exhaustive or lead someone towards a `preferred'
approach to growth but rather to understand the community's priorities. Feedback from the
community will be considered in the development of a preferred composite approach to
growth.
They will serve as the basis for the upcoming Phase 3 community and collaborator
engagement activities, including an interactive workshop and speaker series event (as
detailed in DSD -2025-091). The activities will present information and gamify the Community
Parameters in a manner that requires attendees to balance trade-offs in important city
building decisions.
The Community Parameters have been prepared with direct input and collaboration with the
Kitchener 2051 Community Working Group and informed by the Community Values. The
Community Parameters are outlined below:
• It is important that I have access to shops and services that serve my neighbourhood,
like places to buy groceries or grab a coffee, within a short walk, roll, or bike ride from
home.
• It is important that I be able to live in my neighbourhood throughout different stages of
I ife.
• It is important that I live near transit routes that come frequently enough to not have to
check a schedule during the week.
• It is important that I live near trails with year-round access.
• It is important that I have park or natural area within a short walk from home.
• It is important that we find ways to add new trees as we grow.
• It is important that every neighbourhood include spaces to work, shop, gather, and
build community.
• It is important that there are places throughout the city beyond Downtown where I can
enjoy community events and local arts and culture.
• It is important that there are good job opportunities within a short walk, roll, bike, or
transit ride from home.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
Concurrently, the Project Team and Consultants will be evaluating each approach to growth
through a series of technical evaluation criteria (Attachment A). The technical evaluation
criteria will include the following considerations:
• Climate Adaptation and Mitigation (e.g., tree canopy impacts)
• Social Planning (e.g., proximity to existing amenities and community facilities)
• Housing (e.g., support for a mix of housing types)
• Transportation (e.g., road network capacity, proximity to trails)
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• Water and Wastewater Infrastructure (e.g., capacity in existing water and wastewater
distribution networks)
• Financial Implications (e.g., costs to expand municipal infrastructure)
• Complete Communities & Economy (e.g., shops, jobs, non-residential uses, industry,
institutional uses)
• Natural Heritage System (e.g., proximity of residents to natural areas)
• Parks and Open Space (e.g., access to parks, sports fields)
The Community Parameters and Technical Evaluation Criteria will be used to inform
continued community and collaborator engagement on Kitchener 2051 and approaches to
growth.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Building a Connected City Together: Focuses on neighbourhoods;
housing and ensuring secure, affordable homes; getting around easily, sustainably
and safely to the places and spaces that matter.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget — The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the Council / Committee meeting. Regular project updates are posted to Engage Kitchener
CONSULT and COLLABORATE — Kitchener 2051 includes a robust 4 -phase community
engagement process that builds on the Strategic Plan. The Kitchener 2051 Community
Working Group, alongside other Council, community, and collaborator input has helped to
shape Community Parameters and Technical Evaluation Criteria which will form the basis of
community engagement in Spring 2025 as part of evaluating approaches to growth.
Collaboration on Kitchener 2051 is occurring regularly with the Community Working Group
(CWG). The CWG includes a diverse group of individuals that represent the demographics of
Kitchener (and look like the Kitchener of tomorrow). The CWG is learning about what the City
needs to consider through a new Official Plan and collaborating with staff and consultants to
meaningfully shape all aspects of the plan.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
• Planning Act
• Provincial Planning Statement, 2024
• DSD -2024-077 — Building a Connected City Together: New Official Plan Launch
• DSD -2025-061 — Council Strategic Session — Kitchener 2051
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REVIEWED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager, Policy & Research
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A — Technical Evaluation Criteria
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Attachment
Technical Evaluation i
Support Kitchener '
s economy
1-1 Protects or enhances the Regional Employment Areas (identified in ROPA 6) and
supports the longevity of these areas for continued job growth
1-1 Provides opportunities to support a range of employment uses to accommodate demand
1-3 Enables job growth outside of defined employment areas, helping the city adapt to the
future of work
1-4 Supports a better balance of jobs and housing across the City to reduce long distance
and automobile -based commuting and greenhouse gas emissions
1-5 Minimizes congestion on truck routes
Protect and enhance the Natural Heritage
2-1 Protects and conserves or enhances the connected natural heritage system
2-2 Provides for development patterns which take advantage of nature -based solutions to
climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g., prevent flooding, sequestration of carbon)
2-3 Protects the City's ground water and surface water features, including significant ground
water recharge areas
2-4 Enables easy access to parks
2-5 Protects and preserves the urban tree canopy
Be future focused
3-1 Facilitates a range of housing options aligned with the City's housing needs to achieve up
to 450,000 residents by 2051
3-2 Optimizes the use of existing and planned water/wastewater infrastructure
3-3 Optimizes the use of existing and planned road infrastructure
3-4 Reduces costs of new infrastructure
3-5 Minimizes long-term operations and maintenance costs
3-6 Optimizes the use of existing and planned hospitals and long-term care facilities
3-7 Optimizes the use of existing and planned schools, parks, and sports fields
3-8 Optimizes the use of existing and planned libraries and community centres
3-9 Optimizes the use of existing and planned retail food uses
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3-10 Minimizes carbon emissions through support for a variety of built forms, compact growth
and intensification
3-11 Maximizes the energy efficiency associated with the built environment
3-12 Maximizes energy efficiency associated with transportation activities
3-13 Maximizes energy efficiency associated with building heating/cooling activities
3-14 Provides an opportunity for alternate energy opportunities, such as district energy
3-15 Addresses risk and vulnerability of the built environment to extreme weather and
changing climate patterns, including heat, precipitation and flooding/property damage
3-16 Influences household energy costs and vulnerability to energy system change
3-17 Enables opportunities for renewable energy generation
3-18 Requires a shift in mode share beyond what is being planned for
Plan for change across the city
4-1 Supports the objective of enabling development of additional neighbourhood retail and
grocery store uses.
4-2 Accommodates growth with the city's most situationally vulnerable areas
• • • • • MCI •
5-1 Allows for easy access to public transit
5-2 Allows for growth to be efficiently serviced by expansions to the transit network
5-3 Allows for easy access to places of work via public transit
5-4 Allows for easy access to frequent public transit
5-5 Maximizes access to active transportation routes
5-6 Minimizes vehicle kilometres traveled
5-7 Supports multi -modal access and connectivity outside of the City and to other regions
5-8 Provides access to commercial areas
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