Wilmot councillors debate draft principles as development of new township official plan moves into next phase

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Following several months of public consultation and background study, the development of a new official plan for the Township of Wilmot is moving into its next phase.

To usher in that next phase, which will see the drafting of policies and drawing of land-use maps that will guide growth and development, and dictate how land will be used in the township over the next 50 years, the township hosted a special council meeting Nov. 17 during which representatives from Nethery Planning presented a set of draft guiding principles for the project, and councillors had the opportunity to provide their feedback.

“Your current (official plan) was approved in 2004,” said Nethery Planning founder and registered professional planner Joe Nethery. “There have been a series of amendments, including a major one in 2017 with approval in 2019, but it is, at that point, beginning to get to that point of what we might call end of life. … Coupled with all of this, there have been a series of major legislative and policy changes, even since 2019, that affect the township and all municipalities across Ontario.

“Since that time, there have been two new provincial planning statements (PPS), … the repeal of the growth plan (and) the elimination of land-use planning responsibilities from Waterloo region and other upper-tier municipalities across Ontario as well. … All of this is requiring those local planning documents to be reflective of that change and up to date with that provincial policy and to reflect the challenge that has been foisted upon you in that you now have two official plans that you’re currently implementing and administering – the region’s document and your own current township document. … Do you need two plans when one will do, and of course, what content will that one contain?”

Based on feedback from the public and other stakeholders collected through one-on-one engagements at the New Hamburg Fall Fair on Sept. 13, as well as the official plan visioning session on Sept. 23 and a public workshop on Oct. 22, Nethery planners developed a list of draft guiding principles for the development of the new official plan.

They include:

• Encourage and support a range and mix of housing in village centres and on major roads;

• Enhance village centres by accommodating new businesses, housing, community facilities and enhancing streets and parks;

• Provide opportunities for local jobs and economic growth;

• Planning for accessible transportation options to support the safe movement of people and goods on local roads;

• Ensure the protection and enhancement of the natural heritage systems and its ecological functions;

• Promote fiscal responsibility in development and manage growth in tandem with the availability of services; and

• Promote the design of resilient and sustainable communities that respond to climate change and promote compact urban form to protect farmland.

Speaking before council, vice chair of the Grand River Environmental Network Kevin Thomason emphasized the importance of drafting an official plan that includes each of the environmental and natural-resource protections included in the Region of Waterloo’s official plan, especially as the provincial government appears to be set on destroying prime agricultural land in favour of a mega-industrial site in the township.

“This new Wilmot official plan now has to be as leading and visionary as our regional official plans with a fraction of the resources,” Thomason said. “Everything that has set us apart in the (regional official plan) needs to be carried forward in the Wilmot official plan, be it our countryside line protecting farmland and clearly guiding development by reducing speculation, or our unique, no-rural severance policy that has helped ensure Wilmot farms have remained intact and amongst the most profitable in all of Canada.

“When we were not included in the Greenbelt, it fell to the region to ensure that our source water areas, farmland and natural areas were as protected as the rest of Ontario. Almost all of our environmental protections have been at the regional level and now, with the loss of regional planning authority, they must be incorporated into this Wilmot plan for our communities’ quality of life, or our communities’ quality of life will be threatened.”

Much of the discussion around the council table at the Nov. 17 meeting was focused around the need to develop a official plan that accounts for the local water and wastewater capacity constraints that will restrict development without expansion, and the local desire to maintain Wilmot Township’s small-town feel, especially when it comes to density and meeting minimum growth targets.

“I want to really make sure we’re framing this document in the right way,” Coun. Kris Wilkinson said. “We’re discussing a document that will inform how this town will grow, but ultimately, at the end of the day, I want to make sure that it’s representative of the people who live and pay taxes here. I think, for the most part, we’re looking to see a relatively similar expansion within a certain, set boundary, and my concern is I’m also looking at this and thinking that, from the suggestion that if you’re going to have higher density, you’re going to have some of these (taller) buildings, that’s maybe not growing the same way that the community that lives here and is actually invested in being in this town wants to see.”

“It’s my belief that if we want to protect farmland, we have to build up, not out,” Coun. Steven Martin countered. “ … We have development in the village centres and it’s my belief we need to grow up. … I hear people saying that we need to have six-story buildings and I think that’s important. … We’ve already approved development that could (see the construction of six-storey buildings). … In fact, with Nithview, that would be another example of a six-storey building. … I would encourage my colleagues to listen to both sides on this.”

While Nethery explained there will likely be a need for some densification to accommodate future growth without threatening encroachment onto prime farmland, councillors ultimately agreed it needs to be managed in such a way so it isn’t out of character with the township’s current residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas, specifically between New Hamburg and Baden where much of the township’s future growth is expected to be concentrated.

“I certainly see the importance of protecting farmland and I came on this council with that perspective,” Coun. Stewart Cressman added. “As a farmer, I see the importance of it as a significant natural heritage that we have. So, our planning decisions impact that and, again, we have to look at how we have competing interests when it comes to density and height. And I think we have to look at how do we get density that is aesthetically pleasing and meets the needs of the people.”

Once Nethery Planning drafts the new official plan policies and land-use maps, planners will present the draft plan to council and the public for further feedback next spring before a final draft is presented to council for consideration in June 2026.