Council considered Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/013/K/JZ, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/232/K/JZ, Lower Doon Land Use Study, DSD-2023-434 listed as Item 7.2.g. on the agenda this date. It was noted Addendum Report DSD-2023-493 was also included in the agenda, in response to the questions that were raised at the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on October 30, 2023. Council was also in receipt of a written submission from Laura Jamieson on behalf of 2350-2440 Homer Watson Boulevard, Kitchener and David Galbraith, UP Consulting, on behalf of 270 Doon Valley Drive.
Laura Jamieson, Land Use Planning Consultant on behalf of Southside Construction Management delegated to request that Council consider the mixed use designation of residential and commercial on the vacant lands for the property municipally addressed as 2350-2440 Homer Watson Boulevard. The abilities of the vacant land site were highlighted and inefficient designation of the land as limited residential abilities were noted. In response to questions from Council, the delegate noted that the height is a form of intensity, commercial designation permits 8 storeys whereas the mixed use would allow for up to 12 storeys.
Councillor J. Deneault left the meeting and returned to the meeting at this time.
Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time.
Stephen Litt, Vive Developments, delegated in support of the Residential 5 zoning, highlighting the pressures of student housing in the area to support high-density residential zoning and responded to questions from Council.
Councillor P. Singh returned to the meeting at this time.
David Galbraith, UP Consulting, provided a presentation in support to maintaining the Residential 5 zoning for the application, outlining the impact of the proposed amendment to change the RES-5 to RES-4 zoning regulations, arising from the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee. D. Galbraith spoke to setbacks, floor space ratio, parking viability and ability to enforce design principles, which can further reviewed and enforced through the site plan control process, which would be required for all RES-5 development applications, noting developments for properties zoned RES-4 were not subject to site plan review. D. Galbraith responded to questions from Council.
Questions were raised related to the proposed amendment to remove the RES-5 zoning be removed from all properties and the appeal rights of those property owners. R. Bustamante, Director, Planning, stated staff would not be able to comment on the matter. J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services, stated any advice related to the dispensing of the matter, and possible Ontario Land Tribunal Appeals should be addressed in Caucus.