Station Area Planning

The Region is currently implementing the Moving Forward 2031 Regional Transportation Master Plan. Part of that work involves planning for a rapid transit system, and how it will impact land use planning in the areas it serves. 

In 2008, a coalition of staff from the Region and Area Municipalities and the development industry called the Reurbanization Working Group, undertook a Station Area Planning Pilot Project. The purpose of the project was to study an area directly surrounding a proposed rapid transit station (an approximate 10-minute walking distance) to find out how future development in the area could be shaped by rapid transit and what policies or guidelines might be needed to encourage attractive compact, pedestrian and transit-friendly development.

The study area chosen was the Charles/Ottawa Street intersection in Kitchener. This area was chosen because it provides a good mix of stable lands such as parks, heritage buildings and residential neighbourhoods as well as areas with reurbanization potential. View the Final Report of the Station Area Planning Pilot Project.

The second phase of the Station Area Planning project included an evaluation of how new development, and growing populations, within proposed station areas would impact the infrastructure (water, sanitary, storm, gas, hydro and communication utilities) in the station areas.

For more information

Please read the Station Area Plan Pilot Project - Infrastructure Analysis Report and the Report Appendices, which include Population Forecasting, Water Modelling, Sanitary Modelling, and Stormwater Modelling.