HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 1992-06-01PED\1992-06-01
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 1, 1992
The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 4:12 p.m. under the
Chairmanship of Alderman C. Weylie, Vice Chairman with the following members present: Mayor D.V.
Cardillo, Alderman C. Zehr, Alderman M. Wagner, Alderman B. Stortz, Alderman J. Smola, Alderman T.
Galloway and Alderman G.L. Leadston. Alderman G. Lorentz and Alderman J. Ziegler entered the
meeting after its commencement.
Officials Present:
Mr. T. McKay, Mr. S. Klapman, Mr. B. Stanley, Ms. B. Newell, Mr. W. Beck,
Mr. J. Cicuttin and Mr. L.W. Neil.
1.OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW
The purpose of this special meeting was to provide an opportunity for Mr. B. Stanley and Ms. B. Newell to
make a presentation to and receive input from the Planning and Economic Development Committee
on the Official Plan Review. Mr. Stanley indicated that he would be talking about choices that can
be made in respect to the City's long term growth and related lifestyle considerations. He noted that
the Official Plan itself would guide development during the next 25 years.
Ms. Binn Newell briefly outlined the Official Plan Review process that has taken place to date and
indicated that the open houses have been well attended with many suggestions being received to
both planning and other aspects of municipal government activities. In particular, she pointed out
that as a result of input received during the focus group sessions, it became apparent that very
large issues needed to be isolated and a one day workshop in this regard has been planned on
June 29, 1992 at Breithaupt Center.
Alderman G. Lorentz entered the meeting at this point.
An overhead presentation and related discussion was then conducted by Mr. B. Stanley. Questions as to
what kind of Official Plan the City wants and what Council's vision was need to be considered and
decided. He noted that the new generation of Official Plans was substantially different than past
plans and acknowledged that vision had many dimensions but that the Official Plan tended to focus
on the land use aspect.
In reference to the new generation of Official Plan, Mr. Stanley stated that 15 years ago, the Official Plan
was primarily land use oriented in respect to physical development. But now in consideration of
long range vision, growth management issues must be addressed and economic growth must be
balanced with social and environmental goals resulting in integration of social and land use
planning. He stated that there was a new focus on building form, community design and quality of
life. He noted that it was important to promote alternative modes of transportation through
community design. Further, Mr. Stanley commented that a goal of the new Official Plan was that it
be readable, understandable, meaningful, general in nature and remain general, and not require
constant amendment.
Comments were exchanged between Mr. Stanley and the Committee concerning:
-how building form would be dealt with.
-the need for policies to be in place that address Urban Design.
-the need to implement Comprehensive Zoning in conjunction with Official Plan Approval.
-the 3 Vision statement choices of the Region.
-growth and Kitchener's proportion of Regional growth which has increased to the level it was at a number
of years ago.
-accommodation of growth to the year 2016 within existing settlement boundaries.
-choice of density and community design by developing the Official Plan so that single, semi-detached
and townhouse residences could locate in one zone.
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
- 201 - JUNE 1, 1992
1.OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW. (CONT'D)
In
reference to the density and design issue, Alderman G.L. Leadston expressed concern that
development taking place on Misty Crescent had a strong resemblance to what exists in the
Valleyview Drive and Mowat Boulevard/Chandler Drive areas. Mr. B. Stanley noted that the type of
community proposed was ownership and not rental. He pointed that the percentage of multiple
dwelling units in Stanley Park was the same as in the Chandler area and that the issue of concern is
"design". Alderman G.L. Leadston commented that as densities increase, problems increase and
requested that Planning staff provide some data on the incidence of crime relative to density and
design. Mr. T. McKay pointed out that the comparison would address circumstances resulting from
past planning and would not address the new concepts of design and development. It was noted
that to control design, negotiation would have to take place and that good design was good
economics as it was in the best interest of the development industry.
Mr. B. Stanley then dealt with how and where the distribution of growth could take place and the choices
in that regard as follows:
-the inner-city (excluding the downtown) capacity is 10,000 residential units which is within what is
already approved in secondary plans.
-containment within present urban limits allows for accommodation of 40,000 units at the present density
of 10 units per hectare.
-westside expansion provides maximum flexibility to the development industry but must be balanced
against goals relative to the environment, urban density and preservation of agricultural
land. Mr. T. McKay commented that 10 units per hectare was not an option given the
Provincial Housing Statement but in any event, containment would be well within urban
boundaries.
-eastside development (Grand River South) is being developed as estate residential or alternatively if on
full services which would provide only a marginal increase in residential units relative to
the 40,000 units that can presently be accommodated but would carry excessive
servicing costs.
-nodes and corridors were mentioned in respect to possible development in Breslau and encouraging the
strengthening of transit routes and corridors.
Alderman J. Ziegler entered the meeting at this point.
Mr. W. Beck, commented briefly on: Go Transit which in his view was simply a replacement of the Via
Rail service that was discontinued but could assist in reducing the need for widening Highway 401,
the role of King Street as a transit corridor servicing 3 cities and the need for a link between the
City's Transit Terminal and a future Go Transit Station.
Mr. B. Stanley advised that at the next Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting, staff of
the Region of Waterloo would be making a presentation to the Committee and that the Region
would like a response from Kitchener by August.
2.ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
L.W. Neil, AMCT
Assistant City Clerk
