HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2019-10-22PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 22,2019CITY OF KITCHENER
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee met this date, commencing at 7:00p.m.
Present:Councillor S. Marsh,Chair
Councillors D. Chapman, S. Davey, K. Galloway-Sealock,J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis,M.
Johnston,C. Michaud, D. Schniderand P. Singh.
Staff:J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
L. MacDonald, City Solicitor
A. Pinard, Director, Planning
B. Sloan, Manager, Long Range and Policy Planning
T. Donegani, Senior Planner, Policy
C. Dumart, Planner, Policy
P. Kohli, Technical Assistant
J. Bunn, Manager, Council & Committee Services/Deputy City Clerk
S. Delaney, Committee Administrator
Councillor S. Marsh advised this is a formal public meeting to consider applications under the Planning
Act. If a person or public body that would otherwise have an ability to appeal a decision of the City of
Kitchener to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, but the person or public body does not make oral
submissions at the public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Kitchener before the By-
law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.
1.DSD-19-233-NEW ZONING BY-LAW (CRoZBy) –STAGE 2 –RESIDENTIAL ZONES
The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-19-233, dated
September 27, 2019,regarding the Comprehensive Review of the Zoning By-law (CRoZBy). The
Committee was in receipt this date of 37written submissions related to CRoZBy, and Mr. T.
Donegani and Mr. C. Dumart presented the Report, advising there is anamendment to the
recommendation regarding the transition provisionsof the by-law.
Councillor P. Singh declared a pecuniary interest with respect to the New Zoning By-law
(CRoZBy) –Stage 2 –Residential Zones, as both he and members of his family own property
within the Residential Base Zone.
Councillor S. Davey also declared a pecuniary interest with respect to the New Zoning By-law
(CRoZBy) –Stage 2 –Residential Zones, as he owns property within the Residential Base Zone.
Mr. M. Savage, Disability and Human Rights Group,addressed the committeeand suggested
that CRoZBy should take into account the requirements for those with mobility issues,and
advised the builtenvironment should be accessible to all citizens.
Ms. S.Gunz,addressed the Committee,andpresenteda visioning report prepared by the Cedar
Hills community.Ms. Gunz raised concerns with how guidelines are inconsistently applied to
new development; that development applications often require variances to various city policies
and by-laws,which has contributedto cynicism amongst residents; and, concerns about rear-
facing transitions between existingproperties and new development.
Mr. M. Asling, Waterloo Region Yes in My Backyard, addressed the Committee regarding
affordablehousing in Kitchener, and the Affordable Housing Strategy.
Ms. A. Sinclair, MHBC Planning, addressed the Committee on behalf of New Lifestyle Homes
Inc., in support of the changes to the residential regulations made since 2017. She noted her
client’s concerns include how the new zoning regulations will apply to existing land holdings;
and, whether or not existing provisionswill continue to be recognizedwith respect to those
holdings.
Mr. J. MacDonald addressed the Committeein regards to assisting residents to invest in their
neighbourhoods, specifically regarding the allowance of additional units and aging in place. He
asked for the development of a tool kit,which would assist homeownersto accomplish these
goals, allowing citizensto make investmentsin their neighbourhoods.
PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 22, 2019-20-CITY OF KITCHENER
1.DSD-19-233-NEW ZONING BY-LAW (CRoZBy) –STAGE 2 –RESIDENTIAL ZONES
(CONT’D)
Ms. A. Remias addressed the Committee regardingconcerns with her neighbour’s home
business. Councillor S. Marsh advised Ms. Remias to contact her ward Councillor to discuss this
particular issue.
Councillor C. Michaud entered the meeting at this time.
Mr. P. Elgin addressed the Committee and raised concerns with development applicationsthat
seek to wave city guidelines/policies or by-laws related to development, and asked the
Committee toensure development applicationsare compliant with existing development policies.
Mr. P. Britton, MHBC Planning, addressed the Committee on behalf of the Waterloo Region
Home Builders Association, Fusion Homes, Hallman Construction Ltd., and Activa Holdings Inc.
in support of the amendment staff requested regarding transition provision and regulation.
In response to questionswith respect to additional dwellings on a single lot,Mr. Dumart advised
the maximum number of dwellings on a lot is three, and would be subject to all regulationsof the
zoning by-law.
In response to questionsregardingAirbnbs,Mr. Donegani advised the characterisation of use
for Airbnbs was considered through Stage 1 ofCRoZBy, in terms of whether these properties
are considered rental units, hotels, or bed and breakfasts. Bed and Breakfast is a permitted use
in certain zones subject to certain regulations, and typically Airbnbsfall under the bed and
breakfast-type use.
Questions wereraised regarding how to protect homeownersthat do not want to sell to a
developer or become part of a complex. Mr. A. Pinardadvisedthe City affords some level of
protection as the larger developments would be subject to site plan control.
In response to questions, Mr. Sloan advised through the development review process,
instructions would be provided either online, in print or through a toolkit, concerning what
conditional dwelling units mean for neighbourhoods, and to provide materials on how to guide
homeowners through the review process.
Onmotion by Councillor K. Galloway Sealock -
it was resolved:
“That the City-initiated Official Plan Amendment regarding additional dwelling units,
attached to Development Services Department report DSD-19-233 as Appendix‘D’, be
adoptedandaccordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and,
That the City-initiated Zoning By-law Amendment to implement CRoZBy Stage 2a -
Residential Base Zones, attached to Report DSD-19-233 as Appendix ‘E’,and amended
by adding the following new section “18.2 a) iii) “effective date of this by-law” means the
date on which the lands to which the provisions of section 18 apply, were included on
appendix ‘A’, either through the initial passing of this by-law,or by amendment” be
approved, and receive three readings once By-law 2019-51 (CRoZBy Stage 1) is deemed
to be in effect, either in whole or in part; and further,
That the issue of regulation of lodging houses in the Official Plan and Zoning By-law be
referred to the Affordable Housing Strategy for furtherconsideration.”
2.ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
S. Delaney
Committee Administrator