HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-051 - A 2020-028 - 783 Guelph St1
Staff Repoil K�-WFLEN�
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Committee of Adjustment
DATE OF MEETING: March 17, 2020
SUBMITTED BY: Juliane von Westerholt, Senior Planner - 519-741-2200 ext. 7157
PREPARED BY: Eric Schneider, Planner — 519-741-2200 ext. 7843
WARD: 10
DATE OF REPORT: March 9, 2020
REPORT #: DSD -20-051
SUBJECT: A2020-028 — 783 Guelph Street
Recommendation: Approval
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Location Map: 783 Guelph Street
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Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
REPORT
Planning Comments:
The subject property located at 783 Guelph Street is zoned Residential Seven Zone (R-7) in
Zoning By-law 85-1. The property is designated Low Density Multiple Residential in the North
Ward Secondary Plan in the Official Plan. Staff conducted a site inspection of the property on
March 5, 2020.
The applicant is proposing to remove an existing single detached dwelling to construct a 65 unit
stacked townhouse multiple dwelling development. A site plan application has been submitted
and is under review. The applicant is requesting relief from Section 6.1 of the Zoning By-law to
allow a reduction in parking from the required 1.25 spaces per unit to 1.12 spaces per unit, and
to allow for 10% visitor parking rather than the required 20%. The applicant is also requesting
relief from Section 41.2.6 to allow a front yard setback of 5.3 metres rather than the required
12.7 metres (average of abutting front yard setbacks, as per RIENS By-law).
View of Existing Site (March 5, 2020)
In considering the four tests for minor variances as outlined in Section 45(1) of the Planning Act,
R.S.O., 1990 Chap. P. 13, as amended, Planning staff offers the following comments.
Parkina Reduction
General Intent of the Official Plan
1. The subject property is designated Low Density Multiple Residential in the North Ward
Secondary Plan in the Official Plan. The Official Plan aims to develop an integrated
transportation system that incorporates active transportation and public transit along with
vehicular traffic. It also promotes land use planning and development that is conducive to
the efficient and effective operation of public transit and encourages increased ridership of
the public transit system. The subject site is located less than 100 metres walking distance
from an existing GRT Route 6 bus stop, which offers connections to the mainline Route 7
and the LRT line. The requested reduction in parking encourages alternatives to vehicular
transportation and therefore meets the general intent of the Official Plan.
General Intent of the Zoning By-law
2. The intent of the regulation that requires 1.25 parking spaces per unit and 20% visitor
parking spaces is to provide adequate vehicle storage space for the property. The requested
rate of 1.12 spaces per unit still provides more than one parking space per unit and is
approximately in line with the parking rates proposed to be applied in the new Zoning By-law
19-051 (Crozby). Through discussions with Transportation Services staff, Planning Staff is
satisfied with the proposed minor reduction in required and visitor parking spaces and finds
the proposed number of parking spaces sufficient for the development. Therefore, the minor
reductions in required parking meets the general intent of the Zoning By-law.
Is the Variance Appropriate?
3. The requested variance to reduce the amount of required parking spaces and visitor spaces
required is considered appropriate because of the subject site is close to the urban core,
has immediate access to transit opportunities and can utilize existing bike lane routes on
nearby Union Boulevard and Margaret Avenue. With these opportunities for alternatives to
vehicular transportation, staff can consider the requested minor reduction in parking
appropriate.
Is the Variance Minor?
4. The reduction of required and visitor parking spaces are minor and will only result in a loss
of 8 parking spaces. Staff is of the opinion that the proposed amount of parking spaces will
be adequate for the site. Therefore, the requested variance is considered minor.
Front Yard Setback
General Intent of the Official Plan
1. The subject property is designated Low Density Multiple Residential in the North Ward
Secondary Plan in the Official Plan. The Official Plan contains policies that encourage
residential intensification and infill opportunities such as this development as an effective
means to reduce infrastructure and servicing costs by minimizing land use and making
better use of existing community infrastructure. This development represents an infill
opportunity that will make better use of existing community infreastructe and therefore meets
the general intent of the Official Plan.
General Intent of the Zoning By-law
2. The intent of the regulation that bases front yard setback on the average of the 2 abutting
lots (Residential Intensification within Established Neighbourhoods) is to preserve consistent
building lines within established neighbourhoods to ensure that development does not
negatively affect a consistent building line on a street. Unlike other neighbourhoods in the
RIENS subject area, this portion of Guelph Street does not have a consistent building line.
Some homes are as close as 3 metres to the front lot line, whereas others are as far back as
15 metres. The proposed front yard setback is in line with the City's standard front yard
setback which can be considered adequate in instances where a consistent building line is
not present. The proposed reduction in front yard setback will also allow the applicant to
incorporate balconies for the units facing the front of the site, which was requested by Staff
to help animate the front fagade and address the street by providing an active streetscape.
Therefore, the requested variance for front yard setback meets the general intent of the
Zoning By-law.
Is the Variance Appropriate?
3. The requested variance to the front yard setback will not disrupt a consistent building line
and the presence of balconies will result in a positive overall effect on enhancing the
streetscape. Therefore, Staff can consider the requested variance appropriate.
Is the Variance Minor?
4. The requested variance can be considered minor given that there is no consistent building
line in this area and the proposed front yard setback meets the standard minimum front yard
setback in the Zoning By-law.
Building Comments:
The Building Division has no objections to the proposed variance.
Transportation Services Comments:
As the proposed parking rates approximately align with what Zoning By -Law 2019-051
(CROZBY) require, Transportation Services can support the proposed application.
Heritage Planning Comments:
Heritage Planning staff has no concerns with this application.
Environmental Planning Comments:
No environmental planning concerns.
RECOMMENDATION
That minor variance application A2020-028 requesting permission to construct a 65 -unit stacked
townhouse development having a front yard setback of 5.3m rather than the required 12.7m; a
parking rate of 1.12 spaces/per-unit rather than the required 1.25 spaces per-unit; and, a visitor
parking rate of 10% rather than the required 20% be approved.
Eric Schneider, BES
Planner
Juliane von Westerholt, B.E.S., MCIP, RPP
Senior Planner
Region of Waterloo
Feb 27, 2020
Holly Dyson
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West
P.O. Box 1118
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Dear Ms. Dyson:
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT
AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
150 Frederick Street, Sth Floor
Kitchener ON N2G 4A Canada
Telephone: 519-575-4400
TTY: 519-575-4608
Fax: 519-575-4449
www. reg i o n ofwate r l o o. ca
File No.: D20-20/
VAR KIT GEN
5) 08 WEBER KIT, Mary Kolosowski
7) 08 KING KIT, AHMET SHERIFALI
Re: Committee of Adjustment Meeting on March 17, 2020, City of Kitchener
Regional staff has reviewed the following Committee of Adjustment applications and
have following comments:
1) A 2020-019 — 33 Lancaster Street East — No Concerns.
2) A 2020-020 — 51 Nelson Avenue — No Concerns.
3) A 2020-021 — 44 Beasley Drive — No Concerns.
4) A 2020-022 — 903 Zeller Crescent — No Concerns.
5) A 2020-023 — 312 Weber Street West — No Concerns.
6) A 2020-024 — 85 Wood Street — No Concerns.
7) A 2020-025 — 624 King Street West — No Concerns.
8) A 2020-026 — 924 Redtail Court — No Concerns.
9) A 2020-027 — 293 Field Sparrow Crescent — No Concerns.
10)A 2020-028 — 783 Guelph Street — No Concerns.
Please be advised that any development on the lands subject to the Applications noted
above are subject to the provisions of the Regional Development Charge By-law 14-046
or any successor thereof and may require the payment of Regional Development
Charges for these developments prior to the issuance of a building permit. The
Document Number: 3186251
Page 1 of 2
comments contained in this letter pertain to the Application numbers listed above. If a
site is subject to more than one application, additional comments may apply.
Please forward any decision on the above mentioned application to the undersigned.
Yours Truly,
Joginder Bhatia
Transportation Planner
(519) 575-4500 Ext 3867
Grand River Conservation Authority 400 Clyde Road, P.O. Box 729
Resource Management Division Cambridge, Ontario N 1 R 5W6
Chris Foster -Pengelly, Resource Planner Phone: (519) 621-2763 ext. 2319
E-mail:
cfosterpenge I ly@g rand river. ca
PLAN REVIEW REPORT: City of Kitchener
Holly Dvson
DATE: March 3, 2020
YOUR FILE: See below
RE: Applications for Minor Variance:
A 2020-019
33 Lancaster Street East
A 2020-020
51 Nelson Avenue
A 2020-021
44 Beasley Drive
A 2020-022
903 Zeller Crescent
A 2020-023
312 Weber Street West
A 2020-024
85 Wood Street
A 2020-025
624 King Street West
A 2020-026
924 Redtail Court
A 2020-027
293 Field Sparrow Crescent
A 2020-028
783 Guelph Street
Applications for Consent:
B 2020-010 123 Pioneer Drive
B 2020-011 98 Strange Street
B 2020-012-019 Valencia Avenue
GRCA COMMENT:
The above -noted applications are located outside the Grand River Conservation Authority
areas of interest. As such, we will not undertake a review of the applications and plan review
fees will not be required. If you have any questions, or require additional information, please
contact me.
Sincerely,
Chris Foster -Pengelly, M.Sc., CAN-CISEC
Resource Planner
Grand River Conservation Authority
*These comments are respectfully submitted as advice and reflect resource concerns within the scope Page 1 of 1
and mandate of the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Holly Dyson
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
My mailing address is
05 March, 2020 3:44 PM
Holly Dyson
Re: A 2020-028 783 Guelph st.
On Thu, Mar 5, 2020 at 2:42 PM <Holly. Dy song kitchener. ca> wrote:
Hell
Thank you for your email. In order for your comments to be considered by the Committee members, I will need your
mailing address. Your personal identifiers will be removed prior to your comments being posted on the City's website;
however, as this is a public planning process your personal information is not protected if someone requests the list of
interested parties.
Regarding your questions, you may wish to contact the file Planner, Eric Schneider (cc'd here) as I can't tell you which
questions the Committee is able to address at the meeting.
Regards,
Holly Dyson
Administrative Clerk I Legislated Services I City of Kitchener
519-741-2200 ext. 7594 1 TTY 1-866-969-9994 1 holly. dyson(aD_kitchener.ca
0100 luiv I
ti
From:
Sent: 05 March, 2020 1:10 PM
To: Holly Dyson <Holly.Dyson @kitchener.ca>
Subject: Re: A 2020-028 783 Guelph st.
Hello Holly,
application A 2020-028 783 Guelph st. I have lived on Guelph street for 30 years, I
don't think the owner/ builder should be granted the variance they are asking for. I don't think its in the
communities best interest to allow the parking to be lessoned. 65 units is a big population boom to our street.
On top on of that parking on Guelph street is currently used up most days and nights. The food bank
patrons use on street parking and it often gets quite congested on top of that the knights of Columbus is right
next door to this property and they also use a majority of on street parking. We also have a beautiful park in
the winter months it is often full of people using the rink and using on street parking. As well as the
residents on Guelph street that use the on street parking for friends and family By allowing the builder to
reduce parking I believe will cause issue with the residents that currently live on the street and those that
frequent the area. In any townhouse/ subdivision there never seems to be enough parking for visitors or
residences so if the builder was granted less parking it would also cause more on street parking. The food bank
patrons often use that side of the street to walk up and down instead of crossing the street to use the
sidewalk, the concern here is more traffic in and out and of the units and Guelph st isn't that wide so if cars
are on the side of the road and On top of all that I can imagine we would also lose some of the on street
parking as well as the current set up is just a single car driveway which I can assume is not sufficient for a 65
unit building. As for the setbacks the current set up for this property has a lovely hedge that has been there
forever and also has tons of beautiful mature trees. I think is would be a big loss to the community to lose all
that greenery to a large building and parking lot. If the setback were to remain the required amount it would
give sufficient space to plant trees and make it look more desirable.
Has the builder looked into possibly purchasing adjacent properties to fulfill the required parking and setback
requirements?
How does the property owner intend to deal with units at need more than one spot ?
How is it possible the builder is allowed to cut down all the trees and hedges?
How many on -street parking spots will be loss due to this construction ?
Thank you
On Wed, Mar 4, 2020 at 9:22 AM <Ho11y.Dysongkitchener.ca> wrote:
Hello_
You can submit written comments to me prior to the meeting and I will circulate them to the Committee members if
you're unable to attend the meeting. It would be best if I receive them prior to 4:00 p.m. next Wednesday so I can
include them in the Members packages when they are couriered. That allows them ample time to review them before
the meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
2
If that's not possible, I can accept comments until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16th; which still allows time for me to
copy and provide them to the members at the meeting. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Holly Dyson
Administrative Clerk I Legislated Services I City of Kitchener
519-741-2200 ext. 7594 1 TTY 1-866-969-9994 1 holly. dyson(cDkitchener.ca
YO
i
From:
Sent: 04 March, 2020 8:39 AM
To: Holly Dyson <Holly.Dyson @kitchener.ca>
Subject: Re: A 2020-028 783 Guelph st.
Hello Holly,
I received a letter from the committee of adjustments - notice of hearing. I have to work that day is
there a way to express my concerns with A2020-028 783 Guelph st. Is there a way to express my concerns in
writing to be read at the meeting or would I have to attend?
Thank you for your time