Key Decisions of Kitchener Council: May 26, 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 award for Montgomery Creek Restoration Project

The City of Kitchener was the recipient of the Ontario Public Works Association 2024 Project of the Year Award in Environmental Sustainability for the Montgomery Creek Restoration project.

The Montgomery Creek project demonstrates how communities can address climate change impacts by improving flood resiliency, enhancing green spaces and fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. The project was a result of Council’s vision and support of the Integrated Stormwater Master Plan and funding from the Federal Government through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The project team was a collaboration between staff in the Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities and Parks & Cemeteries and members of the project team will be at Council on Monday May 26 to present the award to Council.

Council approves City’s new Park Tree and Bench Dedication program

Council approved a revised approach to the Park Tree and Bench Dedication program.. The updated program introduces a cost-neutral bench dedication model with varying plaque recognition periods and a flexible memorial forest program, ensuring affordability and sustainability. Key issues with previous programs included inefficiencies, unsustainable pricing, inequitable dedication options, and a lack of strategic placement criteria.

No additional operating or capital funding is required, and the initiative aligns with Kitchener’s commitment to cultivating a greener, healthier city by enhancing parks and natural spaces.

Kitchener unveils Places and Spaces Parks Master Plan

The City of Kitchener approved the new Parks Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap designed to enhance the city’s parks and open spaces over the next decade. The plan, developed with extensive community input from 2021 to 2023, outlines 50 recommendations aimed at fostering inclusion, improving connectivity, planning for long-term sustainability, and ensuring responsive park spaces.

The key initiatives include a park network approach to upgrades, engagement-driven park design, expansion of non-traditional park spaces, and strengthened collaborations with the development community. The plan ensures fiscal responsibility while creating vibrant, accessible, and future-ready spaces for all residents.

Council approves project to introduce 16 new residential units

City council has approved a zoning by-law amendment to permit a new residential project at 44 and 50 Arlington Boulevard. The development will introduce a new missing middle housing form, being 16 stacked townhouse units. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to offer a greater variety of housing opportunities with gentle increases of residential density in existing communities and to realize our Housing for All vision.

Council approves amendments to Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project

Building on the success of the 2019 Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Plan that was shaped by community conversations, Council approved land use and zoning changes for the Hidden Valley Community, ensuring the conservation of the approximately 95-hectare significant and sensitive Hidden Valley natural area.

The Council’s decision also creates a more complete community in Hidden Valley, with approximately 75 hectares of land now available for a range and mix of housing and supportive commercial uses.