Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Committee Minutes

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Council Chambers
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 B. Ioannidis
  • Councillor M. Johnston
  • Councillor D. Chapman
  • Councillor S. Stretch
Absent:
  • Councillor A. Owodunni
  • Councillor P. Singh
Staff:
  • D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
  • J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
  • G. Stevenson, Director, Development & Housing Approvals
  • T. Malone-Wright, Manager, Development Applications
  • E. Schneider, Senior Planner
  • A.Pinnell, Senior Planner
  • D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
  • M. Blake, Committee Coordinator

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:15 p.m.

This is a formal public meeting to consider applications under the Planning Act.  If a person or public body does not make oral or written submissions to the City of Kitchener before the proposed applications are considered, the person or public body may not be entitled to appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal and may not be added as a party to a hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal.

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-430, dated October 17, 2024, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/021/V/AP, for the properties municipally addressed as 169-183 Victoria Street South. It was noted a written submission was received from F. Etherington. 

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

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

In response to questions from the Committee, K. Barisdale confirmed the application proposes the redevelopment of the subject property to an eight-storey, 28.8 metre high, mid-rise residential apartment building. 

In response to further questions, K. Barisdale noted Park Street would be the ideal location for underground parking, as the existing grading on Victoria Street would make it difficult to provide accessible and active commercial and community spaces. K. Barisdale also confirmed a Heritage Impact Assessment was conducted for the subject property.  

In response to questions from the Committee, A. Pinnell confirmed a Transportation Impact Study (TIS) was submitted by the applicant in support of the application, and the City's Transportation Services are of the opinion that this development will not negatively impact the surrounding road network. 

Mayor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time. 

  • On motion byCouncillor S. Davey

    it was resolved:

    "That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/021/V/AP requesting to amend Zoning By-law 85-1, for 1000002286 Ontario Ltd., Legion Heights Victoria Inc., and 2306975 Ontario Inc., for the properties municipally addressed as 169-183 Victoria Street South, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ and ‘Map No. 1’ as attached to Development Services Department Report, DSD-2024-430 as Attachment ‘A’; and,

    That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/021/V/AP requesting to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, for 1000002286 Ontario Ltd., Legion Heights Victoria Inc., and 2306975 Ontario Inc., be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ and ‘Map No. 1’ attached to Report DSD-2024-430 as Attachment ‘B’; and,

    That the Proposed By-law to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, as amended by By-law 2024-065, shall have no force and effect until By-law 2024-065 (Growing Together PMTSAs) is in full force and effect; and further,

    That the Urban Design Brief prepared by GSP Group Inc., dated October 2024, attached as Attachment ‘C’ to report DSD-2024-430, be endorsed, and that staff be directed to implement the Urban Design Brief through a future Site Plan Approval process, and at the discretion of the City’s Director of Development and Housing Approvals, significant changes to the Urban Design Brief will be to the satisfaction of Council."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-467, dated October 18, 2024, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/022/K/ES, for the properties municipally addressed as 864-876 King Street West.

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

D. Schnider left the meeting at this time.

P. Chauvin, MHBC Planning was in attendance in support of the staff recommendation.

D. Schnider returned to the meeting at this time.

In response to questions from the Committee, P. Chauvin noted the potential for three-bedroom units will be reviewed during the site plan process.  

In response to further questions, P. Chauvin stated a Traffic Impact Study was submitted to the City and Regional Transportation staff who did not identify any major traffic concerns as a result of the proposed development. P. Chauvin also confirmed approximately twenty percent of the units are proposed to be affordable housing.

P. Dedes addressed the Committee in opposition to the application, noting concerns related to construction noise and traffic on Herbert Street, greenspace allocation, as well as the potential for shadow impacts due to the building height. 

In response to questions related to construction concerns, E. Schneider noted that if the application proceeds to site plan, the City will require a Construction Management Checklist, providing details related to: road closures, routes for construction traffic, crane installations, parking on streets, and the notification of residents. 

  • On motion byCouncillor M. Johnston

    it was resolved:

    "That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/022/K/ES requesting to amend Zoning By-law 85-1, for King Pine Kitchener Inc., for the properties municipally addressed as 864-876 King Street West, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’, as attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2024-464 as Attachments ‘A1’ and ‘A2’; and,

    That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/022/K/ES requesting to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, for King Pine Kitchener Inc. be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’, attached to Report DSD-2024-432 as Attachments ‘B1’ and ‘B2’; and further,

    That the Proposed By-law to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, as amended by By-law 2024-065, shall have no force and effect until By-law 2024-065 (Growing Together PMTSAs) is in full force and effect."

    Carried

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator