Planning and Strategic Initiatives

Committee Minutes

-
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 A. Owodunni
  • Councillor P. Singh
  • Councillor B. Ioannidis
  • Councillor M. Johnston
  • Councillor D. Chapman
  • Councillor S. Stretch
Staff:
  • D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
  • M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator
  • V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services
  • J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
  • J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services
  • D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
  • A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
  • D. Becks, Director, Facilities Management
  • G. Stevenson, Director, Development & Housing Approvals
  • L. Reesor-Keller, Project Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
  • A. Pinnell, Senior Planner
  • B. Bateman, Senior Planner
  • H. Irving, Sustainability Advisor
  • A. Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer
  • A. Alzoor, Planner
  • M. Mills, Committee Coordinator

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:20 p.m.

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-180, dated March 27, 2024, recommending the City proceed with the required advertising, preparation, and registration of the necessary By-law for the naming of Otterbein Crescent, within a multiple residential development located at 130 Otterbein Road.

  • On motion byCouncillor D. Schnider

    it was resolved:

    "That the City of Kitchener acknowledge MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited (MHBC) intends to name a private street: “Otterbein Crescent” within a multiple residential development located at 130 Otterbein Road, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-180; and further,

    That the City’s Legal Services division be directed to proceed with the required advertising, preparation, and registration of the necessary By-law for the naming of “Otterbein Crescent”, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-180."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-074, dated April 3, 2024, 2024 recommending Council endorse a corporate 2050 net-zero target; and, that Council endorse the second-generation Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) 2.0 Pivot: Net-Zero; and, that the Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) 2.0 Pivot: Net-Zero, be submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and, that the 2023 City of Kitchener Corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory update be received for information. 

A. Cipriani provided an overview of the report and responded to questions from the Committee. D. Becks, H. Irving and L. Reesor-Keller were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

Councillor C. Michaud left the meeting at this time. 

Councillor J. Deneault left the meeting at this time and re-entered. 

Councillor C. Michaud re-entered the meeting at this time. 

  • On motion byCouncillor S. Davey

    it was resolved:

    "That the 2023 City of Kitchener Corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory update be received for information; and,

    That the City of Kitchener Council endorse a corporate 2050 net-zero target; and,

    That the second-generation Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) 2.0 Pivot: Net-Zero, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-074 as Attachment 'A' be endorsed; and further,

    That the Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) 2.0 Pivot: Net-Zero, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-074 as Attachment 'A', be submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Partners for Climate Protection Program in support of renewed Milestones 1 - 3."

    Carried

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-2024-092, dated April 5, 2024, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/003/L/AP and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/003/L/AP for the property municipally addressed as 15 Laurentian Drive.

A. Pinnell and A. Alzoor provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation, highlighting the proximity of the subject property to an existing private school and residential areas. It was noted the property may be used for the expansion of an existing surface parking area, or to accommodate additional outdoor play space resulting in the demolition of an existing single-detached dwelling. G. Stevenson and T. Malone-Wright were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

K. Barisdale, GSP Group provided a presentation in support of the staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor D. Schnider left the meeting at this time and re-entered.

The Committee requested the applicant contact the tenants of the existing single-detached dwelling to provide relocation assistance. The Committee also noted its' preference for the site to be used for a prospective playground as opposed to a parking lot.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time.

  • On motion byCouncillor S. Stretch

    it was resolved:

    "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/003/L/AP for Kitchener Waterloo Christian School Society, for the property municipally addressed as 15 Laurentian Drive be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-092 as Attachment ‘A’ and, accordingly, forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for approval; and further,

    That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/003/L/AP for Kitchener Waterloo Christian School Society for the property municipally addressed as 15 Laurentian Drive, be approved in the form shown in the Proposed By-law and Map No. 1, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-092 as Attachment ‘B’."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-061, dated March 22, 2024, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/002/J/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/002/J/BB for the properties municipally addressed as 135-161 Jackson Avenue and 135 Brentwood Avenue.

B. Bateman provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. It was noted 136 Brentwood Avenue is proposed to be demolished to facilitate an access route for emergency services. G. Stevenson and T. Malone-Wright were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

J. von Westerholt, MBHC Planning provided a presentation in support of the staff recommendation. In response to questions from the Committee, J. von Westerholt noted the proposed development is intended to provide attainable housing. J. von Westerholt also noted, the proposed building heights and setbacks were selected with the intention of minimizing impacts on surrounding properties. In response to further questions from the Committee regarding the possibility of reducing the proposed buildings' heights, J. von Westerholt noted this matter will be raised with the applicant for consideration. Further, J. von Westerholt noted 136 Brentwood Drive is proposed to be demolished to facilitate servicing and to provide secondary access to the site which will disperse traffic in the subject area. It was also noted the proposed roadway at 136 Brentwood Drive will provide an access route for emergency services. L. Ingram was also in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee regarding the proposed location of fire hydrants and sanitary and stormwater services.

J. Laturney, A. McLaughlin and A. Kheir provided comments in opposition of the staff recommendation noting the proposed building height, setbacks and Floor Space Ratio (FSR) are incompatible with the neighbourhood design characteristics. Concerns regarding the proximity of the proposed development to the expressway, the potential for parking overflow, increased traffic, the destruction of tree canopy, and noise and light pollution were also raised.

Councillor D. Chapman left the meeting at this time and re-entered. 

Councillor M. Johnston left the meeting at this time and re-entered. 

B. Maslanko and J. Hamalainen provided comments in opposition to the staff recommendation noting potential safety concerns with the roadway proposed to replace the dwelling located at 136 Brentwood Avenue. B. Maslanko also noted a petition has been signed by community members opposed to the proposed roadway. B. Maslanko also highlighted existing infrastructure and flooding issues along Montgomery Road.

S. Patten provided comments in opposition to the staff recommendation noting the proposed development disrupts the sense of community and belonging in the Eastwood neighbourhood. S. Patten also highlighted the removal of trees required to facilitate the proposed development and cited the environmental consequences of tree loss. S. Patten noted the applicant could consider reducing the number of proposed units in order to maintain a greater portion of the tree canopy.

Councillor J. Deneault brought forward a motion to refer the matter to the April 29, 2024 Council meeting to allow the applicant additional time to consider feedback provided by the Committee related to the proposed building heights and setbacks, emergency vehicle and waste management vehicle access, the location of fire hydrants, a potential reduction in the proposed number of units, information regarding the number of tenants that will be displaced to facilitate the proposed development, relocation assistance for existing tenants, rental replacement provisions, and potential parkland dedication.

Councillor C. Michaud left the meeting at this time and re-entered.

  • On motion byCouncillor J. Deneault

    "That the following recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-061 be referred to the April 29, 2024 Council meeting to allow the applicant additional time to consider feedback provided by the Committee related to the proposed building heights and setbacks, emergency vehicle and waste management vehicle access, the location of fire hydrants, a potential reduction in the proposed number of units, information regarding the number of tenants that will be displaced to facilitate the proposed development, relocation assistance for existing tenants, rental replacement provisions, and potential parkland dedication:

    "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/002/J/BB for 1000190771 ONTARIO INC. for the properties municipally addressed as 135-161 Jackson Avenue and 136 Brentwood Avenue be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2024-061 as Attachment ‘A’, and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and,

    That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/002/J/BB requesting to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, for 1000190771 ONTARIO INC. for the properties municipally addressed as 135-161 Jackson Avenue and 136 Brentwood Avenue be approved in the form shown in the Proposed ‘Proposed By-law’, and ‘Map No. 1’ attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2024-061 as Attachment ‘B’; and further;

    That the Urban Design Brief, prepared by MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited (MHBC), attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-061 as Attachment ‘C’, be adopted, and that staff be directed to apply the Urban Design Brief through the Site Plan Approval process."

    Carried

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Marilyn Mills
Committee Coordinator

No Item Selected