Kitchener planning growth, housing with new official plan for 2051

The City of Kitchener is working on an official plan for 2051 as the city plans to grow to over 400,000 people.

It’s in its first phase and is seeking public input from residents to help shape how the community will look.

The municipality is currently seeking to put together a community working group that will give guidance throughout the Kitchener 2051 planning process. It will have up to 30 community members that will attend events and virtual meetings to give their expertise and insight.

“The new 2051 plan is really a long-term strategy of how Kitchener will grow going forward,” Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said in an interview with CityNews 570. “It’s really an opportunity to make sure that we are hearing from all segments of the community and that the growth takes place in a way that will support the community with its dreams and aspirations.”

Kitchener’s last official plan made was in 2014.

“This is something we do every number of decades, but I think the pace of growth that were seeing in Ontario and Canada and certainly in this region at the present time is pretty significant.”

The Region of Waterloo has plans to grow alongside Kitchener, expecting a population of around one million people by 2051.

Vrbanovic added that the tri-cities have grown 7 per cent in population in the last year.

“Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a lot more people moving to the area: Some choosing to relocate from places like Toronto, and others coming from other places across Canada and of course, new Canadians,” said Vrbanovic.

He said the vast majority of people moving to Kitchener are coming for jobs and a more family-friendly lifestyle.

City staff will work on the plan for a couple years to come, with plenty of opportunities for the community to get involved, added Vrbanovic.

The public can join the Community Working Group or provide input through the Engage Waterloo Region’s website.