Key Decisions of Kitchener Council: August 25, 2025

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. 

Kitchener receives two major Planning awards for Growing Together

Kitchener’s Growing Together planning framework has been recognized with the most prestigious national planning award, the 2025 Canadian Award for Planning Excellence by the Canadian Institute of Planners. Since 1983, these awards have celebrated the very best in Canadian planning, recognizing excellence, creativity, and real-life impact.

The City of Kitchener has also been awarded the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Charter Award for Growing Together – deemed “the most housing-forward planning framework in Canada.”

Kitchener’s City Hall Service Centre receives innovation award from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

The City of Kitchener has been awarded the Peter J. Marshall Award for Innovation by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for its City Hall Service Centre. The award was presented at AMO’s annual conference by The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

In January 2024, Kitchener opened a dynamic customer service centre. The centre offers residents access to staff experts offering over 100 services in more than 200 languages. The 24-7 contact centre handles over 100,000 calls and 90,000 emails annually, dispatching crews to address community issues.

Citizen-led Compass Kitchener finds 2024 completed projects exceed expectations

Council received and endorsed the Compass Kitchener 2024 Report Card on the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. The report card provides a community-driven assessment of progress across strategic priorities, highlighting achievements and identifying areas for further action.

Compass Kitchener evaluated two projects completed in 2024: Accelerate Commercial Business Approvals and Advance Truth and Reconciliation. Both projects evaluated by the citizen-led advisory committee were deemed to exceed expectations. Council’s support for this evaluation underscores its dedication to aligning municipal efforts with resident expectations and building a more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive Kitchener.

Council approves planning amendments and property tax exemptions to support more affordable housing

Kitchener City Council has approved both the Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) and Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for 132 Fairway Road North, paving the way for 26 studio and one bedroom new affordable housing units.

Council also approved a property tax exemption for Union Cooperative’s 475-477 Lancaster Street West, to support 58 units of affordable housing. This move aligns with the City’s strategic goal of Building a Connected City Together - fostering stronger neighbourhoods, supporting housing stability, and ensuring access to secure, affordable rental homes.

Council approves proposal for affordable and supportive housing

Council approved heritage permits for the demolition to existing buildings, as the initial step for the development of new affordable and supportive housing units by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

This serves a need for supportive housing in the community, including a new residence building for many multigenerational families with adult children with disabilities, as well as affordable apartment units.

This approval is conditional on the proposed replacement building meeting conditions under the Ontario Heritage Act and obtaining a building permit for their proposed project. Council’s support of this project builds upon their strategic priority of Housing for All.