City of Waterloo council summary May 27, 2024

** 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.

City of Waterloo moves forward with updated plan to use City-owned lands for an affordable and attainable complete community

City of Waterloo council unanimously approved the next stage in using the City-owned property at 2025 University Ave E for an affordable and attainable housing development. Staff presented Council with a summary of the feedback collected through community engagement and a revised general proposal based on the input received. In response to feedback collected, staff proposed a more detailed concept for a mixed-use complete community at the site, with:

• affordable and attainable units;
• residential, commercial and possibly employment uses;
• rental and ownership opportunities; and
• high standard for sustainability.

The new concept includes an increased potential building height of nine to 12 storeys. Buildings up to 12 storeys can be constructed using timber, a less expensive form of construction that can help lower prices and rents for future owners and tenants. The additional building height would provide sufficient room and flexibility to allow for structured parking under a building, supporting commercial and office uses, without reducing the potential housing units on site.

Council endorsed the updated plan for a mixed-use, affordable/attainable, sustainable, complete community and directed staff to submit a request for a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to change the site zoning accordingly.

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Media contact:
Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca