City of Waterloo Council Summary July 13, 2026

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at Monday’s council meeting. The council meeting webcast is available on the City of Waterloo YouTube page. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Waterloo policy supports responsible allocation of limited water supply capacity, prioritizes affordable housing 

City of Waterloo Council unanimously passed the City’s Water Supply Allocation Policy, supporting transparent, responsible decision-making for the City’s limited water supply capacity. The City’s policy follows the Region’s Interim Risk Management Framework and the Regional water allocation policy that provide “buckets” of water capacity to municipalities. The City’s supply allocation policy will guide the allocation of Waterloo’s available water capacity to site specific developments, supporting housing development and helping keep valuable construction jobs in our community. 

Developments will be required to submit a Water Capacity Application Form, detailing their water use requirements. The City will assign water supply capacity to site specific developments in accordance with the policy and its prioritization framework. When prioritizing developments, the policy considers factors such as:  
•    community benefit, including affordable housing and sustainability;
•    planning in the public interest;
•    committed funding/grants and prescribed timelines; and
•    supporting the growth of the community’s population and economy. 

Waterloo’s Water Supply Allocation Policy is aligned with the policies of Kitchener and Woolwich.  

Waterloo continues to advance economic development and complete communities

City of Waterloo Council approved amendments to advance developments at 200 Weber Street and 388 Phillip Street, supporting the addition of grocery store space and job creation in two neighbourhoods. The amendment at 200 Weber adds "food store" as a new land use to support a proposed grocery store on site with offices on the second floor. The amendment at 388 Phillip Street also permits a food store (up to 5,500 square metres), as well as up to 3,000 square metres of ancillary use, and a horizontal connection to a vertical geothermal system from the neighbouring property. Permitting the connection to the neighbouring geothermal system provides a sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy alternative for the site.

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