03-30-2025, 10:50 PM
Built form restrictions tend to make things simpler but at the same time it can also make things more difficult. Some properties can be awfully tedious to work with even with form restrictions because of things such as site topography, servicing or even soil conditions.
Growing Together is entirely built form restrictions yet we're still seeing ZBA/OPAs so it doesn't necessarily make things easier, for example the 169 Victoria St project needed changes to restrictions just to make something functional because of how shallow the lots are.
There are obvious benefits, 16 residential zones is insanity but even Kitchener still has 7 residential zones in the 2019-051 bylaw which has 5 low rise residential zones (3 detached/semi, 2 townhome) 1 mid rise and 1 high rise, so even if Cambridge went to 8 zones it would be better.
The restrictions that Cambridge is suggesting aren't all that different from Kitcheners current 2019-051 bylaw with respect to setbacks and lot widths, it really just eliminates FSR rules (Kitchener has been very willing to bend that rule however). It's certainly the right direction for Cambridge to go but the R3 zone is likely to result in similar ZBA/OPAs since the max height is still going to be an issue just with how it's written. It can change between actual bylaw passing and now but I doubt it would, if anything it brings it on par with KW with respect to residential zones.
If Cambridge really wants to be bold (they won't) it would be nice to see a Growing Together type of project combined with overall simplification like this project. Keep in mind Growing Together has won multiple awards both in Ontario, Canada and internationally so something like that would be nice to see from Cambridge.
Growing Together is entirely built form restrictions yet we're still seeing ZBA/OPAs so it doesn't necessarily make things easier, for example the 169 Victoria St project needed changes to restrictions just to make something functional because of how shallow the lots are.
There are obvious benefits, 16 residential zones is insanity but even Kitchener still has 7 residential zones in the 2019-051 bylaw which has 5 low rise residential zones (3 detached/semi, 2 townhome) 1 mid rise and 1 high rise, so even if Cambridge went to 8 zones it would be better.
The restrictions that Cambridge is suggesting aren't all that different from Kitcheners current 2019-051 bylaw with respect to setbacks and lot widths, it really just eliminates FSR rules (Kitchener has been very willing to bend that rule however). It's certainly the right direction for Cambridge to go but the R3 zone is likely to result in similar ZBA/OPAs since the max height is still going to be an issue just with how it's written. It can change between actual bylaw passing and now but I doubt it would, if anything it brings it on par with KW with respect to residential zones.
If Cambridge really wants to be bold (they won't) it would be nice to see a Growing Together type of project combined with overall simplification like this project. Keep in mind Growing Together has won multiple awards both in Ontario, Canada and internationally so something like that would be nice to see from Cambridge.