A decision on a proposed 113-unit residential development in Kitchener’s Bridgeport area has been put on hold following strong pushback from local residents over traffic congestion and the protection of a neighbouring memorial cemetery. At a planning and strategic initiatives committee meeting Monday, city councillors voted to defer a decision on rezoning vacant land at Stanley Avenue and Schweitzer Street to allow for medium-to-high-density housing. Delegates appearing before the committee expressed concerns regarding the development’s proximity to a nearby memorial cemetery, urging officials to ensure the grounds remain a respected sanctuary rather than an overflow outdoor recreation space for new residents. Neighbours also voiced frustration over the potential influx of vehicles into a community already struggling with severe traffic bottlenecks. With Bridgeport relying heavily on a single bridge crossing the Grand River on Bridge Street East, residents warned that added density could present a challenge for emergency vehicles during peak hours. “The bridge on Bridge Street is old, it has two lanes, traffic is gridlocked,” area resident Mary Lou Schaefer told committee members. “So if anyone on our side of the bridge is going to have a medical emergency, it better be at 11 o’clock in the morning when there is no traffic.” Several councillors echoed those concerns, acknowledging that traffic backing up at the Bridge Street East crossing remains a major concern. Councillors agreed to defer the issue until more information was available.
