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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 1997-04-28 SCOUNCIL\1997-04-28-SPE APRIL 28, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of Kitchener City Council was held at 2:00 p.m.this date and chaired by Mayor R. Christy with all members present. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor M. Wagner "That Council consider this date an additional item for which prior notice was not given and which pertains to the location of a Transit lay-by relative to the construction of the Highland Hills Community Centre and Fire Hall No.7." Carried with the unanimous consent of all members of Council. Mr. L. Proulx referred to a site development plan for the Highland Hills Community Centre and Fire Hall No.7 including various scenarios for the addition of an 8 bay Transit lay-by. Mr. E. Kovacs requested direction as to how staff should proceed with regard to the proposal outlined this date. Councillor J. Ziegler offered the opinion that an 8 bay lay-by will be disruptive to the planned use of the site, and Councillor T. Galloway questioned why the lay-by would be at the rear of the destination and not the front, being the corner of Fischer-Hallman Drive and Highland Road. Councillor M. Wagner advised that in his view, the proposed location for the lay-by is not acceptable, and Councillor C. Weylie expressed concern over the possible loss of parking spaces accessible to the Community Centre. Councillor M. Yantzi suggested that the opportunity for a timed transfer system should not be lost, and expressed an interest in a response from the mall owners regarding the location of the bus lay-by. Mr. L. Proulx advised that in previous discussions with the owners an interest had been expressed in a form of pass-through which they felt would generate business for the mall. Councillor G. Lorentz responded that he has numerous concerns with the proposal including: mall access and egress; the increased volume of traffic; and, the addition of traffic lights for fire trucks which will further aggravate the existing traffic problem. He questioned why there had been no discussion of this parcel of land when staff first met with the property owner, noting that it was his understanding the City was looking for an entry off of Highland Road. Councillor Lorentz offered the opinion that the City should not use its own land for the lay-by as the timed transfer system is a benefit to the mall. He further suggested that the mall owners should be willing to donate the land to the City as opposed to the municipality purchasing it. Councillor Lorentz also expressed concerns over the delay in construction which this situation is likely to cause. Councillor K. Redman indicated her support for working with the mall owners to identify a location at the front of the mall. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "That staff remove from consideration, construction of an 8 bus lay-by on the lands for the joint Highland Hills Community Centre and Fire Hall No.7 in the area of Fischer-Hallman Drive and Highland Road." Councillor Jake Smola questioned why the sites for the timed transfer system had not been predetermined, and Mr. E. Kovacs replied that preferred locations were identified in 1994, and that the Highland Hills mall was identified as a general site. He suggested that the mall owners may not be amenable to using a front corner of the property for the planned lay-by. Mr. J. Cicuttin advised that the Region of Waterloo is sensitive to creating a median break on Fischer-Hallman Road and that the grade difference on Highland Road is problematic in terms of access. Mr. J. Gazzola noted that ideally the issue of time transfer sites should have been looked at much earlier, noting that staff were divided as to the use of existing City lands as opposed to privately owned lands. Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested that the bus lay-by should be located on Fischer-Hallman Road, and that this would also be of benefit to the mall. Councillor M. Yantzi offered the view that transit service should not be compromised in the discussion of the lay-by location. The previous motion, moved by Councillor J. Ziegler, seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz, directing staff to eliminate the bus lay-by from the Community Centre/Fire Hall site was voted on and Carried. Moved by Councillor M. Wagner APRIL 28, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES -186- CITY OF KITCI:IENER Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to consider a personal matter." Carried. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. MAYOR CLERK