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Home My WebLink About2016-10-03 PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2016 CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee met this date, commencing at approximately 2:40 p.m. Present: Councillor P. Singh, Chair Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Davey, F. Etherington, Y. Fernandes, K. Galloway-Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, Z. Janecki , S. Marsh and D. Schnider. Staff: J. Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, Deputy CAO, Community Services D. Chapman, Deputy CAO, Finance and Corporate Services J. Readman, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services C. Fletcher, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services R. Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development A. Pinard, Director, Planning L. Tansley, Assistant City Solicitor K. Feere, Manager, Kitchener Market B. Sloan, Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning D. Livingstone, Committee Administrator CSD-16-053 - POTENTIAL DELEGATION OF REGIONAL APPROVAL OF OFFICIAL PLAN 1. AMENDMENTS TO KITCHENER CITY COUNCIL The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-16-053, dated August 26, 2016 recommending Council endorse in principle attaining approval authority for the approval of amendments to Kitchener’s Official Plan, and that Staff report back before the end of 2017 with the feasibility and implications of being delegated approval authority for amendments to the Plan. Mr. A. Pinard was in attendance to respond to questions. On motion by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock - it was resolved: “That Council endorse in principle pursuing approval authority for the approval of amendments to Kitchener’s Official Plan; and further, That Staff be directed to investigate the feasibility and implications of being delegated approval authority for amendments to Kitchener’s Official Plan and report back before the end of 2017, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-16-053.” CAO-16-027 - KITCHENER MARKET STRATEGY 2. The Committee considered Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-16-027, dated September 22, 2016 recommending approval of the Kitchener Market Strategy as the guiding document for the Kitchener Market and market-related activities. Ms. K. Feere presented the Report. In response to questions, Ms. Feere advised that once the Kitchener Market Strategy is approved, staff will prepare a business plan with detailed financial information for consideration by Council. She noted information would be coming forward as part of the business case for the Market during 2017 budget deliberations. On motion by Councillor S. Marsh the recommendation within Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-16-027 was brought forward for consideration. Carried The following motion was voted on and on a recorded vote, with Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Marsh, K. Galloway-Sealock, B. Ioannidis, F. Etherington, D. Schnider, P. Singh, S. Davey, Z. Janecki and Y. Fernandes voting in favour; and, Councillor J. Gazzola voting in opposition. On motion by Councillor S. Marsh - it was resolved: PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2016 -26- CITY OF KITCHENER CAO-16-027 - KITCHENER MARKET STRATEGY (CONT’D) 2. “That the Kitchener Market Strategy be approved as the guiding document for the Kitchener Market and market-related activities of the Economic Development division and the City of Kitchener, as outlined in Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-16- 027.” CSD-16-069 - PROVINCIAL PLAN REVIEW 3. - PROPOSED GROWTH PLAN FOR THE GREATER GOLDEN HORSESHOE, 2016 The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-16-069, dated September 19, 2016 recommending endorsement of staff comments on the proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2016, contained in Appendix ‘A’ to the Report, and submission to the Province as the City of Kitchener comments. Mr. B. Sloan presented an overview of the key proposed changes to the Growth Plan and responded to questions. In addition, he noted any additional comments by the Committee could be submitted to staff in the form of an email. Members were asked to provide feedback and additional comments regarding the implications and challenges to the City of Kitchener resulting from the implementation of the new Growth Plan. With regard to the positive highlights as presented by Mr. Sloan, members emphasized the importance of the future high-speed rail corridor linking Kitchener with Toronto, in meeting the intensification targets set in the Plan. The Committee expressed strong interest in advocating the development of the high-speed rail corridor to the Province, recognizing its importance to improving the movement of people in the Waterloo Region – Toronto Innovation Corridor. With regard to the potential increase in the Intensification Level target and minimum Greenfield density target, members requested staff provide a comparison with an existing high density development to demonstrate the impact of an increase from current levels. Committee members noted that the Growth Plan and Report are high-level documents and do not demonstrate the impact on everyday situations/resources: by-law enforcement; parking; infiltration created by zero lot lines; and, possible adverse impacts created by increased intensification and density levels. In addition, concerns were expressed regarding the potential cost implications of sanitary and sewer infrastructure related to meeting growth targets proposed by the Province. Further concerns were expressed by the Committee related to the diminished role for local Council and the municipality within the Plan, noting the importance of maintaining a strong role in growth management at the local level. The Committee generally expressed agreement with the comments contained within Appendix ‘A’ of the Report and noted the City of Kitchener is well poised to meet the targets within the Plan as supporting policies and guidelines are in place. However, they indicated a need for financial investment from the federal and provincial levels of government to support the initiatives within the Plan. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis, the recommendation within Community Services Department report CSD-16-069 was brought forward for consideration with an additional clause indicating the minutes of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held this date and the Council meeting of October 24, 2016 would be included in the submission to the Province. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis - it was resolved: “That Community Services Department report CSD-16-069 regarding comments on the proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2016 be endorsed and submitted to the province as the City of Kitchener comments; and further, That the minutes of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting of October 3, 2016 and the Council meeting of October 26, 2016 be included in the submission to Province as part of the City of Kitchener’s comments.” PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2016 -27- CITY OF KITCHENER NOTICE OF MOTION - ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD (OMB) JURISDICTION 4. - DEFERRED FROM THE FEBRUARY 22, 2016 COUNCIL MEETING The Committee considered the memorandum dated September 22, 2016 enclosing the Notice of Motion related to the Ontario Municipal Board Jurisdiction deferred by Council to the meeting this date at its regular meeting of February 22, 2016. On motion by Councillor Y. Fernandes, an amendment to the Notice of Motion, having been deferred from February 22, 2016, was brought forward for consideration with a further deferral to a future meeting of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee and an additional clause containing two statements to be added related to the Ontario Municipal Board Jurisdiction. At the request of Councillor F. Etherington, Councillor Fernandes’ deferral motion and the additional clause were voted on separately by recorded vote. On motion by Councillor Y. Fernandes - it was resolved: “WHEREAS the Premier issued a new mandate letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs on September 23, 2016 that includes the requirement that the Minister engage in broad consultation with respect to the reform of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and introduce legislation by spring of 2017; and, WHEREAS Ontario issued a bulletin dated June 23, 2016 in which it indicated that the government was developing a consultation paper respecting Ontario Municipal Board Reform that will be released in the fall of 2016; and, WHEREAS the consultation paper has not yet been released by the government; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the notice of motion in respect of Ontario Municipal Board Jurisdiction, having been deferred by Council on February 22, 2016 to be further the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting of October 3, 2016, deferred to a future meeting of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee , pending the following: a) The release by Ontario of the consultation paper referenced in the bulletin dated June 23, 2016; b) The provision by staff of a draft response to the consultation paper; and, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that consideration of including the following statements in be deferred to a future meeting of the the February 22, 2016 notice of motion Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee : That the Province should generally strengthen the degree of regard that the “ Ontario Municipal board must show to the Provincial Policy and to decisions made by local Councils; and, That the Province should review the manner in which appeals are heard by the Ontario Municipal Board, with a view to requiring that the norm should be for appeals to be heard in the same manner as appeals are heard by the Courts and not as trials de novo. ” Carried Unanimously Clauses 1through 4, - on a recorded vote. Carried on a recorded vote. Clause 5 - PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2016 -28- CITY OF KITCHENER NOTICE OF MOTION - ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD (OMB) JURISDICTION 4. - DEFERRED FROM THE FEBRUARY 22, 2016 COUNCIL MEETING (CONT’D) In Favour: Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Davey, D. Schnider, K. Galloway-Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, S. Marsh, P. Singh, F. Etherington and Z. Janecki. Contra: Councillor Y. Fernandes. ADJOURNMENT 5. On motion, this meeting adjourned at approximately 5:40 p.m. D. Livingstone Committee Administrator