Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Committee Minutes

Monday, December 04, 2023 at 6:00 P.m. - 11:00 P.m.

Council Chambers - Hybrid

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• Mayor B. Vrbanovic (virtually)
• Councillor S. Davey (virtually)
• Councillor D. Schnider
• Councillor J. Deneault
• Councillor C. Michaud
• Councillor A. Owodunni
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman

Staff:

• D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer (virtually)
• J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
• R. Bustamante, Director, Planning
• G. Stevenson, Manager, Development Review
• E. Schneider, Senior Planner
• C. Dumart, Senior Planner
• B. Bateman, Senior Planner
• A. Zuffreli, Student Planner
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• M. Mills, Committee Administrator

---

1.

Commencement

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:00 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

3.

Consent Items

3.1

None.

4.

Public Hearing Matters under the Planning Act (advertised)

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.

4.1

Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/009/T/CD, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/014/T/CD, 50 Thaler Avenue & 300 Kinzie Avenue, City of Kitchener and Waterloo Catholic District School Board, DSD-2023-321

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-321, dated November 6, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/009/T/CD; and, adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/014/T/CD, for the properties municipally addressed as 50 Thaler Avenue and 300 Kinzie Avenue.              

A. Zuffreli provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. R. Bustamante, G. Stevenson and C. Dumart were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

J. Passy, Waterloo Catholic District School Board was in attendance in support of the staff recommendation, and to respond to questions from the Committee.

• On motion by Councillor D. Schnider

  it was resolved:​​​​

  "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/009/T/CD for the properties municipally addressed as 50 Thaler Avenue & 300 Kinzie Avenue for the City of Kitchener and Waterloo Catholic District School Board, requesting a change of the Urban Structure component on the lands specified and illustrated on Schedule ‘A’ and requesting a change in land use designation on the lands specified and illustrated on Schedule ‘B’, be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-321 as Appendix ‘A’, and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and further,

  That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/014/T/CD for the City of Kitchener and Waterloo Catholic District School Board be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-321 as Appendix ‘B’."

  Carried

4.2

Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/033/B/BB, 117 Bloomingdale Road North, Marann Homes, DSD-2023-427

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-427, dated November 3, 2023, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/033/B/BB; and, adoption of the Urban Design Brief attached to Report DSD-2023-427, to inform a future Site Plan Application for the property municipally addressed as 17 Bloomingdale Road North. 

B. Bateman provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee. 

Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time.

K. Barisdale, GSP Group provided an overview of the application in support of the staff recommendation. Martin Knowles, Marann Homes was also in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor S. Davey entered the meeting at this time.

G. Stevenson and R. Bustamante were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

• On motion by Councillor S. Davey

  it was resolved:

  "That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/033/B/BB for the property municipally addressed as 117 Bloomingdale Road North for Marann Homes, requesting to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’ attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-427 as Attachments ‘A1’ and ‘A2’; and further,

  That the Urban Design Brief, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-427 as Attachment ‘B’, be adopted and used to inform a future Site Plan Application."
  

  Carried

4.3

Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/018/B/BB, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/030/B/BB , 2150 Bleams Road, Trustees for St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church; Romanian Orthodox Parish St. John The Baptist, DSD-2023-496

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-496, dated November 6, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/018/B/BB; and, adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/030/B/BB, for the property municipally addressed as 2150 Bleams Road.      

B. Bateman provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation noting staff were recommending approval of a Zoning By-law amendment to change the Zoning on the property from Institutional to RES4, which would allow for 5 street fronting townhouses on the parcel of land identified within the application. B. Bateman noted based on feedback from the community and overall functionality of the lot RES5 was considered, but RES4 was being recommended to ensure the final lots would achieve an overall lot width of 6m, rather than 5.5m. It was further noted that staff were requesting an amendment to the staff recommendation to include a request from the Region of Waterloo related to the Holding Provision 56H to include a Construction Spill Prevention and Response Plan. R. Bustamante and G. Stevenson were also in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee.

E. Wittman, GSP Group provided an overview of the application noting support for the staff recommendation. In response to questions from the Committee, E. Wittman noted a preference for the subject land being zoned as RES5, in order to facilitate the development of 6 townhomes rather than 5.

Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time. Councillor D. Chapman assumed Chair.

Councillor S. Davey brought forward a motion to defer consideration of this matter to the December 11, 2023 Council to allow an opportunity for further review of the proposed RES4 Zoning rather than RES5, which would potentially permit 6 street fronting townhomes, rather than 5. At the request of Committee, staff also agreed to notify any residents who participated in community consultations about the deferral and potential change in Zoning.

• On motion by Councillor S. Davey

  it was resolved:

  "That the following motion be deferred to the December 11, 2023 Council meeting to allow an opportunity to further review the proposed RES4 Zoning rather than RES5, which would potentially permit 6 street fronting townhomes, rather than 5, and to ensure those residents that participated in the consultation are notified of the deferral:

  That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/018/B/BB for the property municipally addressed as 2150 Bleams Road for the Romanian Orthodox Parish St. John The Baptist be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment as Attachments ‘A1’ and ‘A2’, of Development Services Department DSD-2023-496, and, accordingly, forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for approval; and further,

  That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/030/B/BB requesting to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’ as Attachments ‘B1’ and ‘B2’ of Development Services Department DSD-2023-496.”

  Carried

4.4

Recess and Reconvene

The Committee recessed at 7:31 p.m and reconvened at 7:40 p.m, chaired by Councillor P. Singh with all members present, except Councillor A. Clancy.

4.5

Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/008/B/ES, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/012/B/ES - 93-99 Benton Street and 39-43 St. George Street, DSD-2023-514

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-514, dated November 14, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/23/008/B/ES; and, adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/012/B/ES, for the properties municipally addressed as 93-99 Benton Street and 39-43 St. George Street. 

E. Schneider provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee. R. Bustamante and G. Stevenson were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

J. von Westerholt, MHBC Planning provided an overview of the application in support of the staff recommendation. T. Hawkins, MHBC Planning and H. Dhaliwal, applicant were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding tenant displacement, H. Dhaliwal noted the applicant is willing to compensate tenants residing at the subject property 4 months of rent for their relocation, in order to facilitate construction of the proposed development. H. Dhaliwal indicated he could not provide further response this date related to additional action that could be taken to support the existing tenants in their relocation, without having a full understanding of the overall financial state of the project. In response to questions from the Committee, H.  Dhaliwal indicated he would be willing to meet with the residents to further discuss concerns being raised this date.

Councillor M. Johnston brought forward a motion to defer consideration of this matter to the January 22, 2024 Council Meeting to allow an opportunity for Staff to facilitate further discussions amongst the developer and tenants regarding appropriate measures to address tenant displacement introduced by the proposed development.

M. Walker, Eviction Prevention Waterloo Region, C. Claveau, A. Bonaparte, Waterloo Region ACORN, C. Bos, J. Bergen, R. Murdock, S. Jaques, M. Markham, S. MacKinnon, L. Intini, J. Ertel, S. Gunz, K. Bitzer provided comments in opposition to the application noting concerns for tenant displacement and the risk of homelessness due to the lack of affordable housing.

Councilllor P. Singh left the meeting at this time. Councillor D. Chapman assumed Chair.

Councillor P. Singh re-entered the meeting at this time and re-assumed Chair.

• On motion by Councillor M. Johnston

  it was resolved:

  "That the following motion be deferred to the January 22, 2024 Council meeting to allow an opportunity for Staff to facilitate further discussions amongst the developer and tenants regarding appropriate measures to address tenant displacement introduced by the proposed development:

  That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/23/008/B/ES for the properties municipally addressed 93-99 Benton Street and 39-43 St. George Street for Ideal Capital Limited, requesting to add Special Policy Area 9 to Map 11 – Cedar Hill Secondary Plan in the Official Plan and to add Policy 13.3.4.9 to the Cedar Hill Secondary Plan to facilitate a mixed use development having 96 residential units and 53 square metres of commercial space with a Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 5.1, be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-514 as Attachment ‘A’, and accordingly forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for approval; and further,

  That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/012/B/ES for Ideal Capital Limited be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-514 as Attachment ‘B’."

  Carried

4.6

Annual Zoning By-law Update, DSD-2023-503

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-503, dated November 14, 2023, recommending adoption of City-initiated amendment ZBA23/036/K/GS (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 85-1; and, City-initiated amendment ZBA23/036/K/GS (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 2019-051.  

G. Stevenson provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. R. Bustamante was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

Councillor M. Johnston brought forward a motion to  approve the recommendation as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2023-053.

Councillor S. Davey brought forward an amendment to the motion that staff prepare mapping that permits a site-specific Zoning By-law amendment for 30 Sunbridge Crescent to adjust the boundary of the Natural Conservation (NHC) zone so that the lands previously zoned as Agricultural Zone (A-1) in Zoning By-law 85-1 are zoned as Low Rise Residential (RES-1) in Zoning By-law 2019-051, however no lands within the floodplain or wetland be zoned RES-1, and such mapping be presented to Council for consideration on December 11, 2023.

Councillor S. Davey's amendment was voted on and was Carried.

• On motion by Councillor M. Johnston

  it was resolved:

  "That City-initiated amendment ZBA23/036/K/GS (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 85-1, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2023-503 as Appendix ‘A’; and,

  That City-initiated amendment ZBA23/036/K/GS (Annual Zoning By-law Update) to Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in the ‘Proposed By-law’ attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2023-503 as Appendix ‘B’; and further,

  That staff prepare a map for consideration at the December 11, 2024 Council meeting, where a site-specific Zoning By-law amendment for 30 Sunbridge Crescent is permitted, having the boundary of the Natural Conservation (NHC) zone revised for lands previously zoned as Agricultural Zone (A-1) in Zoning By-law 85-1 to be zoned as Low Rise Residential (RES-1) in Zoning By-law 2019-051, except for lands within the floodplain or wetland."

  Carried

5.

Information Items

5.1

Planning Division Quarterly Report, DSD-2023-504

6.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.

Marilyn Mills
Committee Administrator