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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-10-025 - Tannery Community Meetings REPORT REPORT TO: Development and Technical Services DATE OF MEETING: June 7, 2010 SUBMITTED BY: Carla Ladd PREPARED BY: Rod Regier WARD(S) INVOLVED: all DATE OF REPORT: June 2, 2010 REPORT NO.: CAO-10-025 SUBJECT: TANNERY COMMUNITY MEETINGS RECOMMENDATION: For information purposes. BACKGROUND: Cadan has applied for a demolition permit and site plan to convert site B of the Tannery to temporary surface parking. Several delegations to Council have raised concerns with the plan. On May 17, 2010 Council directed senior staff to hold discussions with representatives of the community and Cadan regarding the future of Block B of the Tannery District. REPORT: th An initial meeting was held on Thursday May 27 and subsequent meetings were held on June nd 2. At the initial meeting, the group was given a tour of the main Tannery site currently under construction. Cadan presented their short and long term visions for both Block A and B. It was determined that subsequent meetings were required to more fully discuss the Tannery Site B Demolition Application process, the Heritage Impact Assessment, issues related to the planning process and City of Kitchener planning policies and regulations, parking in the downtown west area, and the long-term vision for the Tannery Block B site. Community perspective ranges from strong opposition to the demolition of the buildings on Site B to strong support for Cadan’s short-term proposal for Site B with the assurance that the Company will move forward with a comprehensive redevelopment of site B within three years. The second set of meetings resulted in an intensive discussion of these issues. A full explanation of the demolition permit process, planning policy and regulation, the Heritage Impact Assessment, and related parking issues were provided with extensive questions and answers. The meeting concluded with a full discussion of the need for the proposed temporary parking. The meeting concluded with approximately the same range of perspectives held by the participants. The following outlines remaining outstanding issues discussed. Demolition Alain Pinard provided an overview of the demolition permit process which included an explanation of "applicable law". Several questions followed. It was clarified that the Official Plan and Heritage Impact Assessments are not applicable law. Site plan approval is applicable law and currently there is an active site plan application in order to construct a temporary gravel parking lot. The HIA is a requirement of the site plan approval process. Site Plan Approval Staff clarified that site plan approval was required in order to construct the temporary parking lot. A new site plan application will be required for the redevelopment of Site “B". Heritage Impact Assessment Heritage Planner Michelle Wade provided an overview of Kitchener's HIA process and then explained how the HIA prepared by ERA Architects Inc. on behalf of Cadan Inc. was reviewed and processed. Joey Giamo of ERA Architects Inc. provided an overview of the HIA document and explained the analysis and conclusions. Several questions followed. Some members of the community commented that they do not agree with the analysis and conclusions. Official Plan Relevant official plan provisions were discussed by staff and members of the community. It was highlighted that some official plans provisions are subject to diverse interpretations. Some members of the community have interpreted the Official Plan differently and their opinions remain unchanged after the explanations provided by staff. Parking Rod Regier and John McBride provided an overview of parking strategy in the downtown and for the Tannery project. The Tannery is a large complex with minimal dedicated parking inventory. Significant parking allocations are required to successfully lease portions of the building under development. Some participants in the meetings feel that there is adequate vacant parking inventory in the area to accommodate Tannery generated demand. City analysis does not support this conclusion. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None CONCLUSION: (OPTIONAL HEADING) The dialogue between members of the community and Cadan resulted in improved understanding of the issues by all participants. However, there is no consensus on the desirability of interfering in the current demolition and site plan process currently underway. A strongly motivated group of individuals oppose the demolition on principle. Local residents also spoke strongly in favour of the demolition and short term plan for Block B. Although a systematic poll of the community was not taken, it appears that a larger portion of the local community would support the Cadan proposal, particularly if they were assured that the surface parking on Site B was temporary and they would have a voice in establishing the design criteria for the future redevelopment of the site. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Carla Ladd Participant List May 27, 2010 Carla Ladd, Meeting Chair, City of Kitchener CAO Jason Hammond, Grand River Car Share and downtown resident Brock Hart, Ideas Transform Web Site moderator Sharon Lamont, Local Resident Rick Haldenby, Local Resident and Director of the UW School of Architecture Michelle Wade, Heritage Planner, City of Kitchener John Gazzola, Councillor, City of Kitchener Lana Sherman, Tannery Gary Maister, Tannery John MacDonald, Local Resident and Architect James Howe, Resident Wendy Rofihe, Waterloo Resident and Heritage Advocate Alain Pinard, Director of Planning, City of Kitchener Katie Anderl, Planner, City of Kitchener Anna Maste, Co-Chair of the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association Rod Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development, City of Kitchener June 2, 2010 Alain Pinard, Director of Planning Katie Anderl, Planner Michelle Wade, Heritage Planner John MacDonald, Local Resident and Architect Sharon Lamont, Local Resident John Gazzola, Councillor Rod Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development, City of Kitchener Wendy Rofihe, Waterloo Resident and Heritage Advocate Jason Hammond, Local Resident and Grand River Car Share Lana Sherman, Tannery Phillip Evans, ERA Heritage Planners Joey Giamo, ERA Heritage Planners James Howe, Resident Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor, City of Kitchener