Erbsville South block plan study

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Consultation has concluded

A block plan study is taking place for an area in the northwest corner of Waterloo, near the corner of Erbsville and Wideman roads. A block plan study will identify how the area may grow and develop. The study will review growth and development options and provide policies for transportation, environmental protection and managing growth. This study project includes a plan that:

  • ensures important environmental features are protected;
  • outlines the general structure and types of residential units that will be developed;
  • ensures development is compact, efficient and meets local, regional and provincial policy;
  • ensures development is appropriately integrated and compatible with adjacent neighbourhoods; and
  • promotes a form of development that encourages walking, cycling and provides appropriate opportunities for trails and appreciation of nature.

As background to the block plan, an environmental study was completed. It confirmed natural features and functions, identified areas to be protected and recommended development setbacks and mitigation measures. The study was endorsed by council in June 2018.

View the draft Erbsville South Block Plan

A draft of the Erbsville South Block Plan has been completed and is now available for review. The draft Erbsville South Block Plan provides direction for how development and environmental protection will occur for the Erbsville South area. Priorities for the draft block plan include: environmental protection, active transportation connections (making walking and cycling available in the area) and requirements for high quality design for future development.

A block plan study is taking place for an area in the northwest corner of Waterloo, near the corner of Erbsville and Wideman roads. A block plan study will identify how the area may grow and develop. The study will review growth and development options and provide policies for transportation, environmental protection and managing growth. This study project includes a plan that:

  • ensures important environmental features are protected;
  • outlines the general structure and types of residential units that will be developed;
  • ensures development is compact, efficient and meets local, regional and provincial policy;
  • ensures development is appropriately integrated and compatible with adjacent neighbourhoods; and
  • promotes a form of development that encourages walking, cycling and provides appropriate opportunities for trails and appreciation of nature.

As background to the block plan, an environmental study was completed. It confirmed natural features and functions, identified areas to be protected and recommended development setbacks and mitigation measures. The study was endorsed by council in June 2018.

View the draft Erbsville South Block Plan

A draft of the Erbsville South Block Plan has been completed and is now available for review. The draft Erbsville South Block Plan provides direction for how development and environmental protection will occur for the Erbsville South area. Priorities for the draft block plan include: environmental protection, active transportation connections (making walking and cycling available in the area) and requirements for high quality design for future development.

Guest Book

Please share your comments regarding the Erbsville South study area to help us in developing a block plan.
Consultation has concluded
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

As a 70 year old single senior looking to downsize in a few years, I am finding that Waterloo does not have much to offer in the way of townhouse bungalos. Many of the new homes being built are two story and are for families. bungalow townhouses are being built in Elmira, but I would prefer to live in Lakeshore village area where I have resided for 39 years. I do not want to live in the downtown area, and also am not interested living in a highrise condo. I have my name at the Meadows senior townhouses in St. Jacobs, but there are 50 people on the waiting list, and it could be several years before a unit becomes available. There are so many baby boomers who will eventually be looking to downsize, so I hope that the builders take this into consideration.

Dorothy mcmillan about 4 years ago

It would be wonderful to have a west-side waterloo area dog park that is within walking distance (or a short drive). Driving across town 20 minutes to access Kiwanis or Bechtel adds to congestion both on the roads and in the over populated parks.

Krys123 about 4 years ago

If this new development is to proceed, a new intersection at Erbsville Road and Conservation Drive has to be part of the plan. I use this intersection regularly now and it is very difficult because of the angles of the roads as well as the house on the SE corner. It will become dangerous with significantly more traffic due to this new development.

Paul Pope about 4 years ago

Excited to see more trails being put in the neighbourhood and sidewalks on Erbsville. I see lots of caregivers walking along the road to take young children to the EarlyON centre and always worried for teir safety. Wondering, will the EarlyON Centre stay in its present location?

WaterlooWifey about 4 years ago

I am disappointed to see that a 4-story high building of stacked townhouses/ a condominium/ apartments is approved in the middle of an environmental area and close to low-density area. This area would be much better suited to a park (even a dog park, there isn't one on the West end of Waterloo) and more cohesive with the space. It doesn't make sense to put high density residences in the middle of a low density residential area.

Heather S. over 4 years ago

I am surprised that a 4-story high building is approved in the middle of an environmental area and close to low-density area!!. First it goes against your “Context and Compatibility Principles” as it is beside low-density houses, second, it adds considerable stress on the environment and on the large trees available in that lot.

The logical thing to do with this lot is make it a park with trails. This is because the areas around it do not have a park or play area, and this lot is nestled in an environmental area and would be perfect for a park with trails. Or at least keep it as it is now, a low density housing. Please do not let money trump all.

Sam. over 4 years ago

It is extremely important that the natural environment be maintained in this area. The need for development is secondary to the need to protect our natural spaces and the wildlife residing there. Let's not let money trump all, as usual.

Ambi almost 5 years ago

I am happy to see stress being put on both protecting the environment and fixing some very dangerous traffic issues (most concerning is the left turn south on Erbsville from Conservation).

I am a resident of the east side of Erbsville for over a decade. We have an extremely high number of wildlife species that live in the Laurel Creek conservation area and travel the corridor of trees north of Forest Gate and through the south property in the plan. There *must* be a wildlife corridor installed to allow both reptiles and mammals safe crossing or else you strand them to one side. Many of these species are endangered or at risk including both the snapping and blanding turtles.

Additionally, a pedestrian 'island' or crosswalk should be installed where the Forest Gate path comes to the sidewalk, just north of or across from Wideman, not at the Forest Gate street entrance. High school kids never walk north to get to SJAM, they all travel through that path and then dodge cars to cross.

Cat almost 5 years ago

as a cyclist who rides up to and through Erbsville, my concerns are about traffic speeds and bike lanes.
The speed limit is posted at 50 kph. Large dump trucks and other similar vehicles 'roar' through the village well above this speed. Most of the personal vehicle drivers obey the speed and even slow for cyclists.
Sight views in the village are hampered by overhanging branches or trees growing too close to the road.
Installing a round-about at Conservation Dr and Erbsville Rd will be helpful.
The comments by the residents are applicable too: where are children in this growing area supposed to play and recreate without having to go up the road to Macdonald SS?
Thank you.

Shimin almost 5 years ago

In an area with so many young families it would be nice to see parks/green space being planned in these designs. Since taxes are already so high on streets like Regal Place, etc. it seems unfortunate we really have little access to city services such as children's parks, soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, etc.

Matt C about 5 years ago

Pedestrian cut-throughs are excellent ways to keep neighbourhoods connected that encourages walking and bicycling, and have pedestrian patterns that are not subject to the noise and danger of vehicle traffic. Are these being required in the development plan?

kwsl560 about 5 years ago

I was not able to attend this open house but from looking at the presentation it does not appear much different than the October 2012 edition. So now an environmental assessment has been completed yet prior to its completion you allowed the doubling of lots on Regal Pl. again in 2018 the area went from an R4zoning to an R3 without completion of this study. So it makes me wonder why are we even doing this, the changes are being made anyway. It’ll be said that Regal pl. was not part of the study yet you allowed a major change to take place and not at all how it was presented in 2012.
So now we are here and I can only hope that proper consideration is given to traffic flow through this area. I’ve been a voice for this proponent for nearly two decades now. The rumour mill has it that there will be a round about built at the Conservation/Erbsville intersection with property already acquired for the purpose, again study is only happening but it appears that the fore gone conclusion is already at hand. Please forgive my cynicism but decades of dealing with this hasn’t given me any warm fuzzies. I certainly hope to attend the May meeting and do hope you can provide a greater lead time with an actual date.

Joe V. about 5 years ago

Erbsville Road is badly in need of better sidewalks and cycling paths to encourage more active transportation in northwest Waterloo. Currently, the entire stretch north of Keats Way only has sidewalk on one side, with no pratical bike lanes. There are no shoulders, and the drainage ditches make cycling dangerous. These features have got to become a higher priority, including the strategy for upgrading existing road infrastructure to connect to cycling paths created during road reconstruction.

LNZ about 5 years ago