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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 1997-06-10PED\1997-06-10 JUNE 10, 1997 PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 3:15 p.m. under Councillor M. Yantzi, Vice-Chair, with the following members present: Mayor R. Christy and Councillors G. Lorentz, B. Vrbanovic, T. Galloway, J. Ziegler, M. Wagner and Jake Smola. Councillor C. Weylie was absent on municipal business. Officials present: Ms. C. Ladd, V. Gibaut, J. Jantzi and Messrs. T. McCabe, B. Stanley, J. Shivas, D. Mansell and L.W. Neil. PD 97/53 - 4406 KING STREET EAST - DEMOLITION CONTROL APPLICATION DC97/4/K/RM - TDL GROUP LTD. - SOUTH WARD The Committee was advised that the Department of Planning and Development was in receipt of a Demolition Control Application from the TDL Group Ltd., respecting lands known municipally as 4406 King Street East. It was noted in the report that the applicant proposes to demolish a residential dwelling to facilitate the relocation and expansion of the existing Tim Horton's Donut Shop located at the corner of King Street East and Sportsworld Drive. The structure on the subject property is a 1 1/2 storey brick veneer wood frame building with several additions at the rear. The property is not affected by the Rental Housing Protection Act or the Ontario Heritage Act and the issues that staff examined in regards to their recommendation to approve the application were itemized in the report. Mr. B. Stanley provided a brief explanation of the purpose of the application. No delegations were registered respecting this matter. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - it was resolved: "That Demolition Control Application DC 97/4/K/RM (TDL Group Ltd.) requesting approval for the demolition of a residential structure located at 4406 King Street East legally described as Part of Lot 8, Beasley's Broken Front Concession be approved. It is the opinion of this Committee that approval of this application is proper planning for the City." 2. MESSRS. C. BREDIN AND T. KELLY REPRESENTING THE PEER GROUP Mr. Chain Bredin appeared as a delegation along with Mr. Tom Kelly and advised that they represented a group of investors called the Peer Group that has been in negotiation with the Economic Development Division regarding the purchase of lands in the City's Business Park. Mr. Tom Kelly distributed several pieces of information to Council and commented that in general the software industry has failed to deliver products on time whereas the company they represent has consistently delivered products on time and on budget. He noted that the group he represents wishes to bring to the City three complimentary companies within the high tech industry sector and complete the undertaking by the Spring of 1998. PD 97/49 - KITCHENER RESPONSE TO REGIONAL REPORT PC-97-019 - "NEW FORMAT AND POWER CENTRE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES" The Committee was in receipt of Planning and Development Staff Report PD 97/49 dated May 7, 1997 prepared as Kitchener's response to Regional Report PC-97-019 "New Format and Power Centre Retail Development Issues". This Regional report was appended to the Kitchener Staff Report and is intended to provide the framework for a future amendment to the Commercial Policies of the Regional Official Policies Plan with regard to policies dealing with power centres and corridor commercial areas that were previously deferred. The report suggests three options to deal with the deferred Regional Commercial Policies but planning staff do not support any of these options. The Kitchener Planning Department is of the belief that there is no demonstrated regional interest in the area of commercial planning, save for matters related to regional infrastructure and that commercial planning and development issues are matters only of local concern. JUNE 10, 1997 PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES - 95 - CITY OF KITCHENER PD 97/49 - KITCHENER RESPONSE TO REGIONAL REPORT PC-97-019 - "NEW FORMAT AND POWER CENTRE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES" (CONT'D) Ms. C. Ladd provided an explanation of the staff report and recommended that the Region should also consider a fourth option which would provide for deletion of existing commercial policies in the Regional Plan. She indicated that staff feel the Region should be encouraged to provide planning research services and that staff had met with regional staff to address Kitchener concerns. In response to this meeting, she distributed a letter dated June 4, 1997 from Mr. P. Mason which she suggested did not take a position on the recommendation of Kitchener staff. In response to questions of Councillor J. Ziegler, Ms. C. Ladd advised that it was her view the Region's June 4th letter did not change anything with regards to this issue and Councillor Ziegler then suggested the third paragraph of the staff recommendation be revised to include reference to a regional context. Councillor M. Wagner questioned what the thinking of the City of Waterloo and the City of Cambridge was on this matter and Ms. C. Ladd advised that the two cities were aware of the Kitchener position. Ms. Ladd clarified that the Region has asked for a response to the power centre issue and has indicated that after considering local municipal responses, regional staff would then be preparing a final report. It was agreed that City planning staff should be in attendance at the meeting of the Regional Planning and Culture Committee when this issue is considered. Mr. B. Stanley referred to page 3 of the report and commented that it was staff's view that the policies in the Regional Official Plan have been ineffective for a number of reasons in achieving what was intended for those policies. He suggested that the power centre issue would be no different than this past experience. Councillor M. Wagner questioned if the Region had the manpower, training and capability to address this issue and Ms. C. Ladd in response referred the Committee to page 3 of the June 4th letter from Mr. P. Mason. Councillor M. Wagner requested that Kitchener representatives on the Regional Planning and Culture Committee be kept informed by staff on the downloading issue. In response to a further question, Ms. C. Ladd advised that area municipalities each had a different idea of what should be incorporated in a database dealing with this subject. The staff recommendation was then considered and it was agreed to revise the third paragraph to add the phrase "to give a regional context" after the words supportive role. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - it was resolved: "That City Council advise the Regional Municipality of Waterloo that it does not support any of the three options for commercial policy outlined in Regional Staff Report PC-97-019; and further, That the Region be requested to consider a fourth option which would include the deletion of existing commercial policies in the Regional Plan in recognition that commercial planning should only be viewed as a matter of local interest; and further, That the Region be encouraged to provide a stronger supportive role to give a Regional context to the local area municipalities through the development of planning research services." PD 97~57 - 570 STIRLING AVENUE SOUTH - REQUEST FOR ANNUAL PORTABLE SIGN - NEW LIFE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY - ROCKWAY-ST. MARY'S WARD The Committee was in receipt of Planning and Development Staff Report PD 97/57 dated June 5, 1997 that was distributed this date. It was noted in the report that the New Life Pentecostal Assembly has requested permission to erect a portable sign for one month each year to 4. PD 97/57 - 570 STIRLING AVENUE SOUTH JUNE 10, 1997 PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES - 96 - CITY OF KITCHENER - REQUEST FOR ANNUAL PORTABLE SIGN - NEW LIFE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY - ROCKWAY-ST. MARY'S WARD (CONT'D) advertise for their vacation bible school. The department has no concern with Council supporting this request for a minor variance to its sign by-law. On motion by Councillor G. Lorentz - it was resolved: "That Council permit on an annual basis, a 30 day portable sign related to a Vacation Bible School for the New Life Pentecostal Assembly at 570 Stirling Avenue South, subject to the obtaining of the necessary sign permit in accordance with the setback and other regulations governing portable signs." PD 97~50 - DISCUSSION PAPER - A REVIEW OF THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL HIERARCHY The Committee was in receipt of Planning and Development Staff Report PD 97/50 dated May 29, 1997. The report was presented as a discussion paper for purposes of a review of the City's Commercial Policies and outlines background with regard to current commercial hierarchy and points out that no comprehensive review of the entire commercial hierarchy and policies has been done since the 1979 Official Plan. The components for a suggested work plan were itemized and it was also suggested that some radical changes in traditional thinking should be explored. The matter of timing considerations was also discussed and it was pointed out that the Region is currently in the process of reviewing its own commercial policies and that the Cities of Waterloo and Cambridge were also in the process of reviewing their commercial structures. In summary, it was pointed out that it was timely to consider a new commercial policy structure that could further support the efforts of downtown revitalization and it was suggested that such new policies might be introduced in late 1997 or early 1998 for review. On motion by Councillor G. Lorentz - it was resolved: "That the Department of Planning and Development be directed to proceed with a comprehensive review of the commercial policies contained in Part 3, Section 4 of the City's Municipal Plan; and further, That in the event changes to the existing commercial policies are proposed, these be prepared in the form of an amendment to the Municipal Plan and tabled at Planning and Economic Development Committee for direction regarding circulation and public review." ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk