Development by historic cemetery to come before councillors
Posted Aug 4, 2026 10:04:36 AM.
Last Updated Aug 4, 2026 04:17:21 PM.
A controversial development by an historic cemetery in Kitchener is back before city councillors Monday.
The project, which was first brought before councillors five years ago, has been tweaked to now include 113 homes (62 semi-detached homes, 51 townhouses) on a site near Stanley Avenue and Schweitzer Street.
The original proposal looked to build a total of 71 homes, including single-detached properties. The house at 31 Schweitzer Street would be demolished to make room for the development.
That original plan however, was met with fierce pushback from the community, concerned about increased traffic, lack of a playground, light pollution and a trail connecting the new homes to the Bridgeport Cemetery.
That cemetery features the heritage designated Free Church built in 1848.
In 2022, numerous letters were sent to city staff concerned about the development and it’s potential connection to the historic site. The letters included nearly one hundred signatures.
Although the new proposal has removed that controversial path by the cemetery, city staff at the time had said they were “not concerned with a future trail connection,” and noted it could “encourage a pedestrian connection from the site to Schaefer Park and Bloomingdale Road North.”
Staff were concerned however with the number of trees that would need to be removed as part of the development. If approved, 220 trees would be gone, with staff looking to the developer to plant more.
The plans and concerns all come up for discussion on Monday, August 10, at the city’s Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting.
Your Community
