Ottawa Construction News staff writer
KINGSTON – The City of Kingston has released the first draft of its new Official Plan and launched a public review until Nov. 30.
The current plan was last updated in 2010.
“This is the most important planning policy document a city can have. It will become the city’s rule book guiding all future development decisions,” said Laura Flaherty, project manager with Planning Services. “The plan needs to reflect how the community wants to grow and create the policies to support that vision.”
Kingston faces growing challenges, including housing, climate change, and affordability. New projections show the city’s population could reach 220,000 by 2051. The draft plan is being coordinated with the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan and Water and Wastewater Master Plan to align land use, transportation, and infrastructure priorities.
“By reviewing and responding to this working draft, community members are helping to shape how Kingston will grow and evolve until 2051,” said Paige Agnew, commissioner of Growth and Development Services. “We’re not just asking for input; we’re building a dialogue that will inform policies guiding everything from housing and infrastructure to the environment, heritage and transportation.”
The draft aims to make planning policies easier to understand through simplified language and interactive maps. Sukriti Agarwal, manager of Policy Planning, said the draft is intended to help residents see how policies, priorities, and mapping connect.
Comments on the draft can be submitted through the city’s “Get Involved Kingston” website. Public engagement events will also be held in the fall, with dates to be confirmed. Feedback from this round will inform a second draft, expected early next year.
The draft plan is part of the city’s long-term planning initiative, YG220K, which references Kingston’s airport code (YGK) and the projected population of 220,000. YG220K also includes the Integrated Mobility Plan, which will guide the city’s transportation system over the next 25 years.
For more information or to provide feedback, visit the project webpage.
