Council considered Official Plan Amendment OP17/003/F/GS, Zoning By-law Amendment ZC17/010/F/GS, 507 Frederick Street, 40, 44, & 48 Becker Street, Henry Walser Funeral Home Ltd., Development Services Department report DSD-2022-478 and Follow-up Reports DSD-2023-062 & DSD-2023-085, listed as item 8.8.1. In addition, Council was in receipt of a written submission from Cameron Walker and Meg Ruttan, which was circulated to Council in advance of the meeting.
Kristen Barisdale, GSP Group, on behalf of their client, Henry Walser delegated in support of the development application, citing questions raised by the previous discussions at the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee including changing plans for the expansion, uses of the gravel, triangular parking lot, reducing parking amounts, using street parking, and removal of the property at 48 Becker Street property, relocation of existing tenants, and provided responses to the questions. In response to questions from Council, K. Barisdale advised that the tenants of 44 and 46 Becker Street have been offered relocation at another property owned by the property owner, addressed proposed rental rates in the new units and efforts taken to consider expansion at a different location.
Henry Walser, delegated in support of the development application, outlining financial constraints with relocating existing tenants to new properties, and benefits that he has provided to tenants over the past several years. H. Walser addressed units available 127 Ann Street and 48 Becker Street and offers to existing tenants to re-locate to those properties and offers made to pay relocation costs. In response to questions from Council, H. Walser addressed the impact of denial of the application, the need to expand to address the increased growth in business, explained the proposed crematorium centre to reduce the need for deceased members to leave the site, the need for additional gathering spaces, willingness to mediate with existing tenants and the proposed rental rents for relocation units.
Louisette Lanteigne, delegated in opposition of the development application on behalf of the residents at 44 Becker Street, citing concerns with traffic, air emissions and impacts on the low income neighbourhood. The impact on the residents of the existing property were highlighted.
Beisen Zubi, delegated in opposition of the development application noting their experiences with renovictions and displacement in waterloo region and provisions in the Landlord Tenant Act. B. Zubi requested Council adhere to its Housing for All and TransformWR policies to maintain the affordable housing, reduce parking and focus on low carbon alternatives.
A motion was brought forward by Councillor P. Singh, which was seconded by Councillor B. Ioannidis to approve Option 2, which excludes the property municipally addressed as 48 Becker Street, recommending approval of Official Plan Amendment Application OP17/003/F/GS and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZC17/010/F/GS, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2023-085.