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Key decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items presented at Kitchener City Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Council advances construction of 2,224 residential units

Council approved zoning by-law amendments, and adopted and forwarded official plan amendment applications to the Region of Waterloo for approval, to permit the construction of:

  • 1,300 residential units, located at 528-550 Lancaster Street West in four buildings ranging from 12 to 34 storeys built on a 1.68-hectare site. It will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units and live-work units, 917 parking spaces and more than 1,000 bicycle spots.
  • 443 residential units, located at 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East, at Franklin Street, in two towers of 17 and 19 storeys atop a four-storey podium. The mixed-use site would include 376 square metres of commercial space and parking for 319 vehicles and 423 bicycles. Read the report.
  • 481 residential units, located at 1770 King Street East, 815 and 825 Weber Street East, at Montgomery Road, in two towers of 17 and 27 storeys atop an eight-storey podium. The mixed-use development includes 650 square metres of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 270 vehicles underground and 21 at the surface. Council approved an amended application that was presented in a report at an earlier Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting.

Council endorses project to develop Clean Energy Transition Strategy

Council endorsed the phases and approach to develop the Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Strategy in an effort to align the utility’s operations with the City’s and community’s climate change commitments.

The project will happen in three main phases:

  • Phase 1, in 2023, focuses on building relationships and understanding around values, goals, and scope through public engagement;
  • Phase 2, in 2024, focuses on determining the way forward together through detailed assessment of options and staff recommendation of an approach; and
  • Phase 3, in 2025, focuses on building consensus on the plan for implementation to 2030 and beyond.

Kitchener Utilities’ natural gas business also needs to evolve to respond to ongoing changes in the global, national, provincial, and local energy context as the clean energy transition continues.

This project will develop a multi-decade business strategy that will position Kitchener Utilities to secure a strong future for the energy utility and enable customers and community members to achieve the local clean energy transition. Read the report.

Compass Kitchener delivers annual report card

Compass Kitchener delivered their annual report card for the 2019 to 2022 Strategic Plan, reviewing projects completed in 2022 and offering reflections and learnings over the four years of the plan. Compass Kitchener commended the City for completing 17 of 25 projects (with the remainder expected to be completed in 2023), despite the significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several recommendations were made for the development of the next strategic plan, including tracking key data and keeping the public informed.

Council gives go ahead to continue Ontario Works entrepreneur partnership

Council gave staff approval to continue a partnership with the Region of Waterloo to support people on Ontario Works as they pursue starting their own businesses.

The city provides participants, who are referred by the Region of Waterloo, with information sessions; entrepreneurial training; one-on-one assistance to develop a business plan; mentoring; and monthly goal-setting meetings and guidance. Read the report.

Grade 5 and 6 winners of My Ideal City competition conduct mock council debate

Local grade 5 and 6 students conducted a live, televised mock council debate prior to the evening’s official council meeting.

The students were the winners of the My Ideal City contest, which asked them to think about the programs and services they would like to see in their “ideal city,” and then write a 250-word creative essay. The students who wrote the winning essays were invited to come to council and take on the role of either a councillor or a delegate and participate in a mock debate, with each student paired with a real councillor for guidance in the days prior to the debate. The topic of the debate was the merits of investing in trail and cycling infrastructure.

The My Ideal City contest and mock debate is an annual tradition, giving enthusiastic young minds the chance to learn what it is like to be an elected official responsible for decisions that shape our community.