HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv Minutes - 2019-06-20
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
June 20, 2019 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Ms. T. Driver - Chair
Messrs. D. Bailey, J. Jackson, R. Paul, and, Ms. K. Fellows, Ms. A. Gingrich Regehr and
Ms. E. Waslander.
Staff: B. Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner
D. Schmitt, Project Manager, Environmental and Urban Forest
N. Lobley, Director, Parks
B. Sloan, Manager, Long Range Policy & Planning
C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
C. Boomer, Committee Administrator
1. SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST STRATEGY & IMPLEMENTATION
Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy and Implementation Plan June 20, 2019, a staff
-2028) & Implementation
Urban Forest Strategy 2019-
Mr. D. Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager, provided an overview of the City
first Urban Forest Strategy and Implementation plan, which was recently approved
by Council. He outlined the five branches of the strategy which include:
1. Plan first, the cornerstone of a sustainable and resilient urban forest.
2. Engage often & widely, building critical support, collaboration and stewardship.
3. Maintain proactively, to increase health and longevity and resiliency.
4. Protect prudently, to maintain and maximize what we already have.
5. Plant correctly & deliberately, ensuring future generations a vibrant tree canopy.
In response to questions, Mr. Schmitt advised the tree protection review would capture the trees
impacted by road reconstruction or planned development. Additionally, he advised the tree
review will analyze our current canopy data and compare this to best practice. The intent is to
perform comprehensive analysis for the protection of municipal trees.
Mr. Schmitt requested members with additional questions can send them to him via email to
David.Schmitt@Kitchener.ca.
2. HIDDEN VALLEY LAND USE MASTER PLAN
The Committee was in receipt this date of a presentation entitled
Mr. B. Sloan, Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning, outlined that community or secondary
plans are to provide guidance to the future development or changes to existing properties.
Currently, we are reviewing the planning framework in many parts of the City. The guiding
principles of the Hidden Valley Land Use Master Plan include sustainability, respect and
enhance existing ar
along River Road extension.
Mr. Sloan advised Hidden Valley is an area that requires a multitude of considerations based on
surrounding land. The land owners in that area have been engaged to determine options and
preferred solutions.
Mr. G. Nicholls, a resident of the Hidden Valley area, presented four areas of considerations
regarding development in the Hidden Valley area:
1. Study the impact the Hidden Valley forest will have on the rate of respiratory disease in
Kitchener
2. The impact of new paved areas on our water
3. Determine salamander migration in proximity to Hidden Valley
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
June 20, 2019 - 13 - CITY OF KITCHENER
2. HIDDEN VALLEY LAND USE MASTER PLAN
4. The impact of new high-density developments adjacent to Hidden Valley
In response to questions, Mr. Sloan advised the impetus of the River Road extension was
revisiting the 1981 approved alignment in the area to create an east to west travel route and
offset traffic from Fairview Road.
The Committee provided following feedback and comments regarding the future development,
ecological protection and oxygen generation:
Ensure development progresses as planned and the vision for the area does not change.
Conservation of the Jefferson salamander and other plant and animal species.
Greater oxygen generation of a forest compared to a sodded meadow.
3. WORK PLAN & SUB-COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Ms. B Steiner advised that the work plan can be amended as the term progresses and invited
members to put their names forward for participation in their preferred work plan item.
Several members of the Committee discussed offering members who have been absent from
recent meetings the opportunity to be a sub-committee liaison and it was decided this item should
be added to a future agenda.
Mr. Jackson and Ms. Fellows provided the committee with an update related to the Waste
Minimization and Diversion Sub-Committee plan to analyze any waste management performed
by the City of Kitchener and to create a handbook outlining roles and responsibilities for event
organizers.
Ms. Driver reiterated Sub-Committee members can reach out to one another via email for
coordination on the Work Plan.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:49 p.m.
Cody Boomer
Committee Administrator