Wellington County officials are keeping on eye on planning issues in the Region of Waterloo after noting Kitchener could expand to the county boundary.
County planner Gary Cousins told council on Jan. 28 the region’s plan “proposes an urban reserve designation extending from the current Kitchener boundary to Shantz Station Road. Also, the region identifies a potential expansion area between Shantz Station Road to the Wellington County boundary south of new Highway 7.
Cousins said while the plan is very long term, the result cold be regional urbanization to the county boundary. He said the urban reserve to the Shantz Station Road was identified by the region in principal in 2003, but was never placed in the regional official plan.
“The additional area up to the county boundary has not been proposed previously, to our knowledge,” he concluded.
He said the implications for such a move cannot be fully assessed, but the proposal could have major effects on the county and Guelph, related to traffic patterns and land use decisions. He said in particular, the move could place “additional pressure on the narrowing strip of farmland between the county border and Guelph.”
Cousins said there is a need to discuss the issue with officials from Waterloo Region.
In an interview he said the plans could have an effect on Guelph-Eramosa Township, but admitted the Region is doing some very long term planning. He said in 50 years, the urban area could reach the Maryhill golf course.
Cousins said it might particularly create pressure on the township and county if Guelph decides to grow westward towards Kitchener. “I don’t think we would like to see one major urban area between the east side of Guelph and the west side of Kitchener.
Region of Waterloo Chairman Ken Seiling said the plan is simply reinforcing planning done as far back as the mid 1970s. At that time the region had “drawn hard edges” that it was not going over, but now, “We’re going to stop north, south, and west movement” leaving only to the east for growth.
Seiling said the new Highway 7 project was approved over a year ago, and the province is now buying land to build it and doing the design. He said of the current Highway 7 between Guelph and Kitchener, “That is a parking lot at the best of times. The new highway will move traffic better and more safely.”
But as for Kitchener and Guelph growing together, Seiling said he has no idea of that city’s plans, and the region does not share a boundary with it.
“I don’t know where they plan to grow.” he said of Guelph.
He said Wellington received notice of the region’s intention because they share a boundary. He also noted the official plan, by order of the provincial government, must be completed by June to meet Places to Grow legislation.
He said of the current proposal that he understands the county wants a greenbelt between the two cities, and, “Our 30 year project doesn’t get us close to the boundary.”
But, as Cousins noted in the interview, “When you start to put these plans in effect, they take on a life of their own.”
