Heritage Kitchener

Committee Minutes

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Council Chambers
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present:
  • J. Haalboom, Chair
  • N. Pikulski, Vice Chair
  • Councillor D. Chapman, Member
  • P. Ciuciura, Member
  • L. Wilson, Member
  • G. Eveleigh, Member
  • M. Milosz, Member
  • P. Arens, Member
Staff:
  • G. Stevenson, Manager, Development Review
  • S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan
  • M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner
  • V. Grohn, Heritage Planner
  • M. Blake, Committee Administrator

The Heritage Kitchener Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 4:00 p.m.

Councillor D. Chapman declared a conflict regarding the Notice of Intention to Designate - 85 Strange Street, DSD-2026-087, due to owning property in the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter.

Councillor D. Chapman declared a conflict regarding the Notice of Intention to Designate - 99 Strange Street, DSD-2026-058, due to owning property in the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter.

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-077, dated February 12, 2026, regarding the Notice of Intention to Demolish for the property municipally addressed as 63 Courtland Avenue East.

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan, and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.  

V. Hicks, MHBC Planning, attended in support of the Notice of Intention to Demolish.

In response to questions from the Committee, V. Hicks  advised that the proposal retains key heritage elements while removing non‑heritage components and that support from the Committee would allow the project to advance to subsequent steps, such as potential heritage designation. 

In response to questions, V. Hicks provided an overview of the intended salvage approach, noting that materials from the areas proposed for demolition would be reviewed to determine whether they could be reused or integrated into conservation work. Further, she noted, Construction is anticipated to begin in Q4 2026. 

It was noted any recommendations arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by Councillor D. Chapman

  • it was resolved:

    "That, in accordance with Section 27(9) of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Notice of Intention to Demolish received on February 3, 2026, regarding a portion of Building 1 and the entirety of Building 2 and 3, as per the approved Heritage Impact Assessment, at the property municipally addressed as 63 Courtland Avenue East, be received as information and that the notice period run its course, as outlined Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-077."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2026-070, dated February 2, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2026-V-004 be approved to permit the construction of a fire escape, alterations to window and door openings, and the construction of a new rear roof dormer at the property municipally addressed as 98 College Street, in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition: that the final building permit drawings be reviewed, and heritage clearance be provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit.

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Housing and Development Approvals, were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

A. Vivek, Martin Simmons Sweers Architects, was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. The Committee was advised that the proposal includes eight residential units, two of which are two‑bedroom units, and that both residential and office uses are permitted on the property.

It was also noted that the fire escape is designed to extend only as required to meet building code needs, and that the third‑floor layout results in a different configuration.

It was noted if this item received unanimous approval from the Committee, it will be processed under Delegated Approval Authority.

Moved by G. Eveleigh

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Heritage Permit Application HPA-2026-V-004 be approved to permit the construction of a fire escape, alterations to window and door openings, and the construction of a new rear roof dormer at the property municipally addressed as 98 College Street, in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-070:

      1. That the final building permit drawings be reviewed, and heritage clearance be provided by Heritage Planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit."

         

    Carried unanimously

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-046 dated January 12, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 1254 Union Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, advised that staff are requesting the item be further referred to the April Heritage Kitchener Committee meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner.

L. Wilson brought forward a motion that the staff recommendation be referred to the March 3, 2026, Heritage Kitchener meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner.

The motion was then voted on and Carried.

Moved by L. Wilson

  • It was resolved:

    "That the following motion be referred to the April 7, 2026 Heritage Kitchener meeting to allow additional time for consultation between Heritage Planning staff and the property owner:

    That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 1254 Union Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-046."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Service Department report DSD-2026-084, dated February 9, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 156 Benton Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendations arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by Councillor D. Chapman

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 156 Benton Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-084.

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Service Department report DSD-2026-086, dated February 9, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 33 Ontario Street North as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendations arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by P. Ciuciura

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 33 Ontario Street North as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-086."

    Carried

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report DSD-2026-085, dated February 9, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 53-61 King Street East as being of cultural heritage value or interest. 

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendations arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by L. Wilson

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 53-61 King Street East as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-085."

    Carried
  • Councillor D. Chapman, Member declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor D. Chapman declared a conflict regarding the Notice of Intention to Designate - 85 Strange Street, DSD-2026-087, due to owning property in the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter.)

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-087, dated February 9, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 85 Strange Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest. 

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter will proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by N. Pikulskie

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 85 Strange Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-087."

    Carried
  • Councillor D. Chapman, Member declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor D. Chapman declared a conflict regarding the Notice of Intention to Designate - 99 Strange Street, DSD-2026-058, due to owning property in the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter.)

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-058, dated January 22, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk will be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 99 Strange Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

V. Grohn, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the designation of school board properties, V. Grohn advised that, in her experience, the designation process with school boards is typically collaborative. Staff also confirmed that school boards are eligible to apply for funding through the City's heritage grant program.

It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter will proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by L. Wilson
  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 99 Strange Street as being of cultural heritage value or interest, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-058."

    Carried

The Committee considered the Development Services Department report DSD-2026-076, dated February 4, 2026, recommending that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized and designation be pursued for the following properties: 26 Weber Street East, 141-149 Borden Avenue North, and 55 King Street West. 

M. Drake, Senior Heritage Planner, and V. Grohn, Heritage Planner provided an overview of the report. S. Bassanese, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and Housing Approvals were in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

It was noted any recommendations arising from this matter would proceed to Council on March 23, 2026. 

Moved by P. Arens

  • it was resolved:

    "That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized and designation be pursued for the following properties, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-076:

      • 265 Weber Street East
      • 141-149 Borden Avenue North
      • 55 King Street West."
    Carried

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.


Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator 

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