Land assembly in Wilmot aligns with Region’s Official Plan, Redman says
Regional Chair Karen Redman says the land assembly in Wilmot does not breach the region’s Official Plan.
Local citizens have voiced concerns that the region’s assembly of 770 acres (312 hectares) in an area of prime farmland near New Hamburg is against the provisions of the Region’s Official Plan, which restricts development outside Waterloo Region’s urban boundaries.
The plan, which was updated in 2022 after extensive community consultation, designates the parts of the townships that can be used for development.
The land that the Region is currently seeking to purchase from individual owners is not designated for development. It’s bound by Highway 7 and 8, Nafziger Road, Bleams Road and Wilmot Centre Road.
However, Redman says that the plan allows for an exception if the needs of the Region for employment lands cannot be accommodated within the urban areas.
“I want to clarify a few pieces, there is a provision in the Regional Official Plan that accommodates this,” Redman wrote in an email to the Record Tuesday.
“This is consistent with the Region Official Plan, direction from Regional Council, and engagement. Large acreage sites cannot be met within the urban boundary.”
Redman quoted the section, 2.H.1.22: “The Region, in collaboration with the Province, area municipalities, local utility providers, and the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation will work to identify and plan for suitable ‘mega-sites’ to support new largescale, strategic employment uses that complement the regional economy. Such sites typically range between 200 and 400 hectares in size and support large-scale manufacturing operations.”
Redman added that the area in Wilmot targeted by the Region “is not located on the Regional Recharge Area,” referring to the parts of the region where rainwater filters down into the groundwater and becomes part of the municipal drinking water supply.
“The Regional Official Plan protects our water sources and ensures a more than adequate supply of high-quality farmland remains. The Region of Waterloo takes its responsibilities in balancing economic and environmental imperatives seriously and will continue to do so.
She added: “Generally speaking, every land readiness project is different based on the specifics of the site and servicing requirements. The Region of Waterloo works
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The Region of Waterloo takes its responsibilities in balancing economic and environmental imperatives seriously and will continue to do so.
KAREN REDMAN REGIONAL CHAIR
alongside area municipalities to consistently review land opportunities for long-term economic investment throughout Waterloo Region.
“Extensive work is done to understand engineering and environmental constraints, which includes due diligence and technical studies related to servicing.”