Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Committee Minutes

Monday, June 16, 2025 at 6:30 P.m. - 9:30 P.m.

Council Chambers - Hybrid

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• Mayor B. Vrbanovic
• Councillor S. Davey
• Councillor D. Schnider
• Councillor J. Deneault
• Councillor C. Michaud
• Councillor A. Owodunni
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman
• Councillor S. Stretch

Staff:

• D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
• V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services
• J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
• A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
• R. Bustamante, Director, Planning and Housing Policy
• G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals
• N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research
• T. Malone-Wright, Manager, Development Approvals
• K. Anderl, Project Manager (Policy)
• K. VanDerGeld, Manager, Licensing
• E. Wittmann, Senior Planner
• M. Balch, Planner (Policy)
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• M. Blake, Committee Coordinator

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1.

Commencement

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:00 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

2.1

Councillor P. Singh - Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW, 924-944 King Street West, DSD-2025-035

Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 4.1. Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/k/ew, 924-944 King Street West, DSD-2025-035, on the agenda this date, as he owns property within the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.

2.2

Councillor P. Singh - Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248

Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.

2.3

Councillor S. Stretch - Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248

Councillor S. Stretch declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.

3.

Consent Items

3.1

2025 School Safety Update to Accommodate Growth, DSD-2025-222

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2025-222, dated June 6, 2025, recommending the establishment of street safety, and the encouragement of active transportation at three new elementary schools opening within the City of Kitchener in September 2025.

Moved by Councillor S. Davey

• it was resolved:

  "That the speed limit be set to 30 km/h within 150 metres of school frontages on:

  • • Kinzie Avenue;
    • Burgetz Avenue;
    • Rosenberg Way;
    • Thomas Slee Drive; and,

       

  That the speed limit be set to 40 km/hr on River Road, from Old Chicopee Drive to Kinzie Avenue; and,

  That No Stopping be installed on:

  • • The west side of River Road East from approximately 20m north of Kinzie Avenue to approximately 150m south of Old Chicopee Drive;
    • The north side of Kinzie Avenue from River Road East to Burgetz Avenue;
    • The east and north sides of Burgetz Avenue from Kinzie Avenue to Thaler Avenue;
    • The north side of Rosenberg Way for approximately 112m, east of the westerly parking area entrance;
    • The north side of Thomas Slee Drive from approximately 40m east of Monarch Woods Drive and approximately 35m west of Ian Ormston Drive; and,

       

  That No Stopping with Time Restrictions from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM be installed on:

  • • The east side of River Road East from approximately 39m north of Kinzie Avenue to approximately, 150m south of Old Chicopee Drive;
    • The south side of Kinzie Avenue from River Road East to Burgetz Avenue;
    • The west and south sides of Burgetz Avenue from Kinzie Avenue to Thaler Avenue;
    • The south side of Rosenberg from approximately 30m east of Forestwalk Street for approximately 208m opposite the school’s frontage;
    • The north side of Rosenberg from approximately 30m east of Forestwalk Street for approximately 35m along the school’s frontage, west of the westerly parking area entrance;
    • The south side of Thomas Slee Drive from approximately 40m east of Monarch Woods Drive and approximately 35m west of Ian Ormston Drive;
    • The west side of Ian Ormston Drive approximately 108m along the west side, south of the proposed access;
    • The east side of Ian Ormston Drive for approximately 22m near the exit area; and,

       

  That a School Bus Loading Zone be installed near the approximately 88m of on-street school bus loading area on the north side of Rosenberg Way south of the school building; and,

  That Crossing Guards be installed at:

  • • Kinzie Avenue and River Road East;
    • Kinzie Avenue and Thaler Road;
    • River Road East and Fairway Road North; and,

       

  That one of the two Crossing Guards be removed from the location of Fairway Road North and Lackner Boulevard; and further,

  That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-222."

  Carried

4.

Public Hearing Matters under the Planning Act (advertised)

This is a formal public meeting to consider applications under the Planning Act. In accordance with the Ontario Planning Act, only the applicant or owner of land affected by the planning applications, a specified person, or a public body, and or the Minister may appeal most decisions.  If you do not make a verbal submission to the Committee or Council, or make a written submission prior to City Council making a decision on the proposal, you may not be entitled to appeal the decision of the City of Kitchener to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), and may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the OLT. To understand your right of appeal, if any, or for further clarification regarding appeals, please see the Ontario Land Tribunal website.

4.1

Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW, 924-944 King Street West, DSD-2025-035

• Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 4.1. Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/k/ew, 924-944 King Street West, DSD-2025-035, on the agenda this date, as he owns property within the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.)

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-035, dated June 5, 2025, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW, for the properties municipally addressed as 924-944 King Street West. It was noted a written submission was received by J. Desbarat regarding this matter. 

E. Wittmann, Senior Planner provided an overview of the report. T. Malone-Wright, Manager, Development Approvals and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals, were also in attendance to respond to questions of the Committee.

K. Barisdale, GSP Group, was in attendance in support of the application. 

In response to questions from the Committee, G. Stevenson confirmed that more than six residential units exist on the site; therefore, the City’s Rental Replacement By-law applies, noting the landlord is responsible for negotiating directly with tenants, and once agreed upon will be secured through a registered agreement with the City of Kitchener. 

In response to further questions from the Committee, K. Barisdale advised that while no specific construction timelines have been confirmed, a project of this scale is anticipated to take approximately 18 to 24 months. Coordination with the City will occur regarding construction phasing and scheduling. K. Barisdale also noted the development will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, providing a range of unit sizes and bedroom counts.  

Moved by Councillor S. Stretch

• it was resolved:

  "That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW for 924-944 King Street West for 1000100206 Ontario Inc. and 1000187534 Ontario Inc. c/o Dez Capital Corporation be APPROVED in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’ attached to Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-035, as Attachments ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ and further

  That Council adopt the Urban Design Brief for 924-944 King Street West attached to Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-035, prepared by GSP group, dated November 2024 as Appendix ‘I’."

  Carried

5.

Discussion Items

5.1

Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248

• Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.)
• Councillor S. Stretch declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor S. Stretch declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.)

Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time. 

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-248, dated June 4, 2025, recommending the referral of Path 2 initiatives to the Housing for All update. It was noted written submissions were received by L. Macredie, S. Savor, L. Crompton, P. Nickels, S. Freeman, A. Schuitema, and D. Kwan.

K. Anderl, Project Manager (Policy) provided an overview of the report. M. Balch, Planner (Policy) N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research, R. Bustamante, Director of Planning and Housing Policy, K. VanDerGeld, Manager, Licensing and A. Fusco, Director, Legislative Services were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

Councillor P. Singh returned to the meeting at this time. 

R. Withell, Dr. H. Chow, J. Donkersgoed, B. Wallis, E. Wand, V. Flear and J. Wells, L. Vos, Dr. R. Brown, K. White, M. Rothschild, M. Markham, H. Majaury, P. Moses, and S. LaGrandeur were in attendance in opposition to the staff recommendation, citing concerns such as insufficient tenant protections, the need for a municipal eviction as a result of renovation by-law, long Landlord and Tenant Board wait times, erosion of tenant rights, loss of affordable housing, and the disproportionate impact of evictions on vulnerable populations. 

5.2

Recess and Reconvene

The Committee recessed at approximately 8:32 p.m., and reconvened at 8:47 p.m. Chaired by Councillor D. Chapman, with all Members present. 

5.3

Evictions Due to Renovations, DSD-2025-248 (Con'd)

The Committee resumed consideration of Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-248, dated June 4, 2025, recommending the referral of Path 2 initiatives to the Housing for All update.

M. Steinman, K. Vogelpohl, R. Gomes, R. Murdock, D. Kwan, B. Delisle, P. Nickels, M. Lewis, L. Intini, D. Keen, E. Cooper, and L. Lindsay were also in attendance in opposition to the staff recommendation, citing concerns such as insufficient tenant protections, the need for a municipal eviction as a result of renovation by-law, long Landlord and Tenant Board wait times, erosion of tenant rights, loss of affordable housing, and the disproportionate impact of evictions on vulnerable populations. 

The Committee acknowledged the potential of an eviction as a result of renovation by-law to offer reassurance to affected tenants; however, members also expressed concerns regarding its effectiveness, enforceability, and the significant staff resources that would be required for its implementation.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the resources required to implement an eviction as a result of renovation by-law, staff advised that a minimum of three full-time equivalent (FTE) positions would likely be necessary to support by-law development, application intake, and enforcement. Additional resources would also be required for communications, including the development of public education materials, and may include operational supports such as vehicles, based on comparisons with similar programs in other municipalities.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward the staff recommendation, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-248, including an amendment directing staff to report back regarding Path 3, at the June 23, 2025 Council meeting with additional information on the potential timelines for developing a proposed eviction as a result of renovation by-law, as well as the associated financial impacts and staffing implications to support its implementation.

A recorded vote was requested.

• On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic

  "That staff be directed to refer Path 2 initiatives to the Housing for All update for consideration and implementation, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2025-248; and,

  That staff be directed to apply for relevant new Federal and Provincial funding and support community partners to access, programs and funding sources that support the creation and maintenance of affordable rental housing; and further,

  That advocacy to the Province of Ontario include the proclamation and enactment of all regulations pertaining to bad faith evictions due to renovations in Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023; and further,

  That staff be directed to report back on Path 3 at the June 23, 2025 Council meeting to provide additional information on the potential timelines for the development of a proposed eviction as a result of renovation by-law, and when staff report back with the proposed by-law, the report back should include the financial impacts and staffing implications associated to implementation."

  In Favour (6)	Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor C. Michaud, Councillor M. Johnston, Councillor D. Chapman, Councillor A. Owodunni, and Councillor J. Deneault
  Contra (3)	Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D. Schnider, and Councillor B. Ioannidis
  Conflict (2)	Councillor P. Singh, and Councillor S. Stretch

  Carried (6 to 3)

6.

Information Items

6.1

Quarterly Planning Report (Q2), DSD-2025-260

7.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 10: 54 p.m.

Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator