Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Committee Minutes

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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
  • J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
  • D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
  • R. Bustamante, Director, Planning and Housing Policy
  • M. Lynch, Director of Fleet
  • N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research
  • S. Harrington, Planner
  • A. Marie Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer
  • F. Wade, Sustainability Advisor
  • D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
  • M. Blake, Committee Coordinator

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 6:00 p.m.

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.  

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2026-039, dated January 12, 2026, recommending approval of City initiated Zoning By-law amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 85-1; and approval of City initiated Zoning By-law amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 2019-051. It was noted a written submission was received by C. Mayhew.

S. Harrington, Planner provided an overview of the staff report. N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research and R. Bustamante, Director, Planning and Housing Policy, were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

Staff noted that an update related to the regulation concerning setbacks to lot lines with common walls for townhouses outlined in Appendix C to the report was not included in the 2019-051 proposed amending by-law, as outlined in Appendix B of Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-039. Based on Committee’s direction, staff would support updating the proposed 2019-051 amending by-law to include the language in outlined in Appendix C.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time.

The staff recommendation was brought forward by Councillor S. Davey, including an amendment to include the language outlined in Appendix C of Development Services Department report, DSD-2026-039, as seen below:

"That paragraph 45 be replaced in its entirety with the following:

Section 7.3, Table 7-4, Additional Regulation (8) of By-law 2019-051 is amended by adding the portions of the below text that are highlighted in grey, deleting the portions of the below text with a strikethrough as follows:

“(8) Despite the minimum interior side yard setback, for any portion of a wall located on beside an interior side lot line yard having a common-wall common wall, but not forming part of a common-wall common wall, the minimum interior side yard setback from such interior side lot line shall be:

a) 2 meters; or

b) 0 meters when there is a5 meter maintenance easement over the abutting property for the maintenance of walls, eaves, and real property.”

That pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, R.S.O., c. P.13, as amended further notice is not required to be given in respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH."

The staff recommendation including the amendment was then voted on and Carried.

  • On motion byCouncillor S. Davey

    it was resolved:

    "That City initiated amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 85-1, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ attached to Report DSD-2026-039 as Appendix “A”; and   

    That City initiated amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ attached to Report DSD-2026-039 as Appendix “B” with the following amendment:  

    That paragraph 45 be replaced in its entirety with the following:  

    Section 7.3, Table 7-4, Additional Regulation (8) of By-law 2019-051 is amended by adding the portions of the below text that are highlighted in grey, deleting the portions of the below text with a strikethrough as follows:  

    “(8)Despite the minimum interior side yard setback, for any portion of a wall located on beside an interior side lot line yard having a common-wall common wall, but not forming part of a common-wall common wall, the minimum interior side yard setback from such interior side lot line shall be:  

    a) 1.2 meters; or  

    b) 0 meters when there is a 1.5 meter maintenance easement over the abutting property for the maintenance of walls, eaves, and real property; and further,  

    That pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, R.S.O., c. P.13, as amended further notice is not required to be given in respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA25/029/COK/SH. "

    Carried

Pursuant to Chapter 25 (Procedure) of the Municipal Code, a motion was brought forward by Councillor S. Stretch to discuss Information item 7.1 and 7.2, listed on the agenda, which was voted on and was Carried.

A. Marie Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer, F. Wade, Sustainability Advisor and M. Lynch, Director of Fleet, were in attendance to respond to question from the Committee.

A. Marie Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer, F. Wade, Sustainability Advisor and M. Lynch, Director of Fleet, were in attendance to respond to question from the Committee.

On motion, this meeting adjourned at approximately 6:05 p.m.

 

Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator