On June 16, 2009, the Regional Council adopted a new Regional Official Plan (ROP). The new ROP is the Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s guiding document for directing growth and change over the next 20 years. The ROP represents a fundamental shift in shaping Waterloo Region towards a more balanced community structure, building from a strong, long standing tradition of innovative planning and growth management. The new ROP has been forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Once approved, the new ROP will replace the current Regional Official Policies Plan and provide the policy framework for implementing the Region’s vision for a more sustainable and liveable community. This website will help you find out more about the process that was followed in developing the new ROP, and outline the next steps in the process over the coming months. This website also contains a series of publications and reports related to the new ROP. For answers to commonly asked questions, please visit our FAQ section.
	Council-Adopted Regional Official Plan (June 16, 2009) News & Events 16.06.10 Response to the Province's Proposed Modifications to the New Regional Official Plan - Final Report Regional Transportation Master Plan: Southwest Kitchener Development Implications Delineation of the Regional Recharge Area in the 2009 Regional Official Plan 02.06.10 The Province has provided the Region of Waterloo with a Draft Decision Note Cover Letter and Draft Decision Note - Text and Maps regarding the new Regional Official Plan. Please feel free to contact Mr. Kevin Curtis at 519-575-4794 for additional clarification or questions. View a copy of: Draft Decision Note Cover Letter Draft Decision Note Map 7 Map 8 20.11.09 The Region recently completed a series of Public Open Houses to obtain additional feedback on the proposed Protected Countryside policies in the new ROP. Submissions were reviewed and the results were presented in a Memorandum to Regional Council on November 17th, 2009. View a copy of: Memorandum to Council Submissions received from the Open Houses 22.09.09 A series of Public Open Houses regarding the newly adopted Protected Countryside policies are fast approaching. Regional Staff will be in attendance to provide additional information and answer any questions you may have. In preparation for the Public Open Houses, please refer to information here, which includes the nature of the Protected Countryside, a map, the policies, and the dates, times and locations of the Public Open Houses. 11.08.09 A memo was brought before the Planning & Works Committee on the status of the Regional Official Plan. This memo outlines how and when staff will be addressing each of the follow-up action items listed in the approved June 16, 2009 Regional Council minutes. Click here for the memo. 10.08.09 This September, the Region will be hosting four Public Open Houses about the newly adopted Protected Countryside policies. The purpose of the Public Open Houses is to provide additional information to and consult with the community, including affected property owners. Policies relating to the Protected Countryside can be viewed by clicking on the above chapter and map links for the Council-Adopted ROP. Specifically, policies 6.B and 6.G.9(e) in Chapter 6 and policy 2.B.1 in Chapter 2 discuss the Protected Countryside. Map 7 shows the geographic area of the Protected Countryside. 16.06.09 The Regional Official Plan was adopted by Regional Council at a Special Council meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. The Region issued a formal Notice of Adoption on June 29, 2009 under the provisions of the Planning Act. The new ROP and supporting documentation have been forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Now that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has received the ROP and all supporting information, the Ministry has 180 days to approve, approve as modified or refuse to approve the ROP in whole or in part through the issuance of a Notice of Decision. As part of this process, Regional Council will have the opportunity to recommend changes to the polices and mapping in the ROP that may be identified subsequent to its adoption. For additional information about the process, click on the Notice of Adoption under the heading "Other Related Information" above.