Lower Doon Secondary Plan Land Use Implementation Project

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This project is now complete. On Nov. 6, 2023 Kitchener City Council approved the revised land use plan for Lower Doon. Thank you to everyone who contributed. For more information, visit kitchener.ca/lowerdoon



The existing policies and regulations for Lower Doon were developed over 20 years ago, with some dating back to the late 1970s. The City is undertaking this project to update the planning policies and regulations that guide and manage growth within the community.

This project will carry out recommendations identified through the Lower Doon Land Use Study. As part of the project, the City will be addressing the following Land Use Study recommendation categories:

  • Protect heritage
  • Enhance the supply of housing
  • Enhance the public realm (through the ongoing Places and Spaces project)
  • Allow lodging houses (through the ongoing City-wide Lodging House By-law Review)
  • Prepare a planning framework
  • Oversee property standards (through ongoing City By-law Enforcement procedures and protocols)

This project includes opportunities for community and stakeholder input, including input from Conestoga College. We have retained ASI Heritage to evaluate cultural heritage assets in Lower Doon and develop a new Cultural Heritage Landscape (CHL) in the community.

How can you contribute?

As part of this project, members of the public will have opportunities to engage with us. We want to hear from you! Ask us questions using the Ask a Question tab below. Share your feedback on the draft land uses, zoning, and CHL materials using the Share your feedback tab below.

If you would like to get email updates, add your email to the Stay Informed box and click 'Subscribe'.



The existing policies and regulations for Lower Doon were developed over 20 years ago, with some dating back to the late 1970s. The City is undertaking this project to update the planning policies and regulations that guide and manage growth within the community.

This project will carry out recommendations identified through the Lower Doon Land Use Study. As part of the project, the City will be addressing the following Land Use Study recommendation categories:

  • Protect heritage
  • Enhance the supply of housing
  • Enhance the public realm (through the ongoing Places and Spaces project)
  • Allow lodging houses (through the ongoing City-wide Lodging House By-law Review)
  • Prepare a planning framework
  • Oversee property standards (through ongoing City By-law Enforcement procedures and protocols)

This project includes opportunities for community and stakeholder input, including input from Conestoga College. We have retained ASI Heritage to evaluate cultural heritage assets in Lower Doon and develop a new Cultural Heritage Landscape (CHL) in the community.

How can you contribute?

As part of this project, members of the public will have opportunities to engage with us. We want to hear from you! Ask us questions using the Ask a Question tab below. Share your feedback on the draft land uses, zoning, and CHL materials using the Share your feedback tab below.

If you would like to get email updates, add your email to the Stay Informed box and click 'Subscribe'.


This project is now complete. On Nov. 6, 2023 Kitchener City Council approved the revised land use plan for Lower Doon. Thank you to everyone who contributed. For more information, visit kitchener.ca/lowerdoon


  • Lower Doon land use changes approved

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    Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project. We are pleased to inform you that on Monday, Nov. 6 Kitchener City Council approved the revised land use plan for the Lower Doon area of Kitchener. The land use changes in Lower Doon will update the area’s planning framework and designate part of Lower Doon as a cultural heritage landscape. Policies and guidelines will protect heritage features and manage growth and development in the neighbourhood densities. Staff engaged community members and stakeholders extensively before making recommendations to Council.

    Read the report or watch the meeting

    If you have any questions, please reach out at SecondaryPlans@kitchener.ca

  • Open house materials now available

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    Thank you to everyone who joined us at our open house earlier this week. If you weren't able to join us, or would like to review the materials we shared, please view the Lower Doon Open House Presentation. .

    Report to Council

    We will present our final report during the second half of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee on Monday, October 30 between 6:30 to 10 p.m. For the agenda and staff report, please visit the calendar entry for the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee (Oct. 30, 2023).

    If you would like to speak to the committee during this meeting, please register as a delegation.

    You can also watch live on the day of the meeting by going to kitchener.ca/watchnow

  • Join us Oct. 23 for a Virtual Open House

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    The Lower Doon project team invites you to a virtual open house on Oct. 23 from 7 to 8pm.

    The virtual open house is a requirement under provincial legislation. The project team will share the proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment that will be presented to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee on Oct. 30. We will also answer any questions that you may have. A Zoom link for the virtual open house is provided below. Use this link to connect to the virtual open house.

    On Zoom: https://kitchener-ca.zoom.us/j/89485411185

    Or join by phone: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

    Webinar ID: 894 8541 1185

    The presentation from the Oct. 23 virtual open house will be posted on this webpage in the coming days.

    We hope you will join us!

  • Deadline extended

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    We have extended the deadline to add your thoughts and ideas to July 31, 2023.

    We want to hear from you about:

    Your comments will help inform proposed land uses, zoning, and cultural heritage plans within Lower Doon.

  • Join us on May 10 for an in-person event

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    You are invited to take part in one of two "walkshops" for the Lower Doon Secondary Plan project.

    A walkshop is a walking workshop to observe, discuss, ask questions, and generate ideas about Lower Doon as it grows and evolves over time. The goal is to ask questions and better understand what the project team looked at when evaluating the area and developing the draft materials. Some of the themes that will be explored during each of the walkshops include:

    • Draft land uses and zoning for Lower Doon
    • Heritage attributes and the draft Lower Doon Cultural Heritage Landscape


    To ensure that as many people as possible are able to participate, the same walkshop engagement will be offered twice on Wednesday May 10, 2023:

    • Wednesday May 10: 1-2pm
    • Wednesday May 10: 5-6pm


    The walkshops will begin outside of the Homer Watson House on Old Mill Road. Established stopping points will occur along the way. A brief drop-in session will be offered after each walkshop at the Doon Valley Golf Course.

    We hope you will join us!

    But if you're not able to attend, the information shared during these walkshops will be shared on this page following the session and you will have a chance to comment on those materials.