City holding open house to discuss Kingston’s growth

The City of Kingston is holding an open house on Monday, Jun. 19, 2023, to talk about Kingston’s population, housing and employment outlook as the study team discusses how the city is projected to grow between now and 2051.

According to a release from the City, the projections study is being prepared in conjunction with an Employment land review and a Commercial land review. The analysis, conclusions and recommendations resulting from key background studies will reportedly form the basis for residential, industrial and commercial land use policies in the upcoming review of the City’s Official Plan.

“The population, housing and employment projections are critical to understanding how the city is expected to grow over the next few decades,” said Sukriti Agarwal, Manager of Policy Planning with City of Kingston Planning Services. “Understanding our growth forecast helps the municipality plan strategically to make sure there is adequate supply of land to support future residential, commercial and employment needs, it is also vital for long-range planning of transportation, servicing infrastructure and capital expenditures.”

The City has engaged a team of specialist consultants, led by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd, to guide them through this process. The anticipated completion for these studies is in the spring of 2024, according to the release.

The City said that the open house will take place at 6 p.m. in Memorial Hall, located inside City Hall, at 216 Ontario Street and is an opportunity for people to ask questions of team members as they present draft projections for the City of Kingston and the Kingston Census Metropolitan Area.