Kitchener addressing overcrowding in student housing in Lower Doon

Overcrowded student housing in the Lower Doon area of Kitchener could be in for some changes in the coming months.

Kitchener city council has approved a plan to move forward with 23 recommendations, including a lodging house bylaw that puts a cap on the number of people sharing a home.

It seems everyone was in favour of the land use study report.

But the lack of student consultation on the report raised concern from Conestoga College's student president.

Sara Banu with Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) said she's in favour of the plan, but would've liked to see more students included.

“This report heavily focused on opinions from one side of the community: the Lower Doon homeowners,” she said.

Banu cited the report, which included comments that painted students in a negative light, with one comment mentioning the neighbourhood should go back to being a family neighbourhood.

She also said through the 16-month process, the CSI was not given the opportunity.

There were also barriers for students to give their views, Banu added, including the fear that landlords would react if they share negative experiences.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said that COVID-19 may have played a factor in that, but added there's still plenty of opportunity to talk through the issues moving forward, as the city works through the recommendations.

CLICK HERE to view the final report, as presented earlier this year.