The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2022-478, dated December 22, 2022, recommending approval of Official Plan Amendment OP17/003/F/GS, and Zoning By-law Amendment ZC17/010/F/GS, for the property municipally addressed as 507 Frederick Street, 40, 44, & 48 Becker Street, and a triangular shaped portion of land legally described as Plan 42, Pt Lots 27 to 30, RP 58R-15854 Pt 1.
Written submissions were received by A. Hulks, D. Traplin, H. Guil, L. Minke, R. Kraft, S. Nabi, S. Martin White, K. Hanna, L. Miller Cressman, K. White, L. Crompton, and A. Karnupis.
G. Stevenson, Interim Director, Planning provided an overview of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application, noting the proposed development would expand the existing building with an addition, and create opportunity for site improvements, including additional landscaping and noise mitigation. G. Stevenson was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
K. Barisdale, GSP Group and Henry Walser addressed the Committee, stating the proposed development would expand the crematorium services offered to the community. Susan Sabanathan, Jeremy Schmitt and Ulla Jokinen, Trinity Consultants were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
In response to questions from the Committee, K. Barisdale noted Henry Walser Funeral Home currently has concerns with parking during peak service times, and the proposed parking plan aims to optimize parking circulation, achieve the minimum parking requirements and meet the zoning regulations.
In response to questions from the Committee, H. Walser provided additional information regarding the percentage of clients requesting cremation services, risks surrounding transporting from Henry Walser Funeral Home to existing crematoriums and current parking concerns at their location. H. Walser also noted relocation for the funeral home and proposed development is not a possibility due to cost. H. Walser stated having the crematorium on-site would allow for all services to be available at the same property for clients' ease, and noted a willingness to work with existing residents that would be displaced as a result of the development and rezoning.
M. Ruttan, S. Nabi, C. Walker, J. White, S. Estoesta, W. Delisle, M. Bowman, and B. Wallis addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposed development due to the displacement of existing residents and the demolition of affordable housing units.
M. Bean, M. Markham, and E. Hummel addressed the Committee in opposition to the application, stating a residential area is not a suitable location for a crematorium.
D. Sidhu, Kitchener Funeral Homes and Crematorium, addressed the Committee, noting their funeral home provides all services, including a crematorium at the same location.
In response to questions from the Committee, G. Stevenson noted Staff are in conversations with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation regarding whether the regional sanitary forcemain and storm water service could be removed from Becker Street and re-routed through the community, and will review whether this would facilitate additional parking for the proposed development. G. Stevenson also noted perpendicular parking on the west side of the triangular shaped portion of land is also actively being considered. G. Stevenson clarified establishing a parking agreement with the neighboring pharmacy requires an off-site parking agreement, and the owner of the lands does not want a registered agreement on title.
G. Stevenson noted the parking supply being proposed exceeds the maximum parking requirement, and does not provide a similar amount of parking in comparison to the floor area addition. G. Stevenson stated the minimum parking requirement based on the final plan is 1 space per 24.5 square meters.
In response to questions from the Committee, G. Stevenson stated the City retained RWDI Consultants to peer review the reports submitted by Trinity Consultants on the behalf of the Owner, and confirmed staff are satisfied with the health and safety of the proposed development based on the results.
Councillor D. Chapman brought forward a motion to refer the following recommendation to the January 30, 2023 Council meeting to allow staff an opportunity to address the concerns raised during the meeting related to on-site minimum parking rates, potential building re-design, removal of Becker Street from the proposed rezoning and to explore options regarding parking on Becker Street and on the land legally described as Plan 42, Pt Lots 27 to 30, RP 58R-15854 Pt 1.