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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 1998-11-09PED\1998-11-09 PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1998 CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 3:43 p.m. under Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, with the following members present: Councillors John Smola, J. Haalboom, T. Galloway, K. Taylor-Harrison, J. Ziegler and M. Yantzi. Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. Vrbanovic, G. Lorentz and Jake Smola entered the meeting after its commencement. Officials present: Ms. D. Arnold, C. Ladd, J. Jantzi, and Messrs. J. Gazzola, T. McCabe, B. Stanley, D. Mansell, J. Witmer and L. W. Neil. 1. LOCAL HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE Ms. J. Jantzi advised that she was a member of the Local Health Care Task Force established to attract medical doctors to the Region. She advised that last weekend fifteen doctors had toured the area and visited local health care facilities. Ms. Jantzi also advised that a video tape had been made of the weekend activities. DEFERRAL OF 1999 APPOINTMENTS RE: BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ADAPTIVE RE-USE COMMITTEE The Committee was in receipt of a memorandum dated November 9, 1998 from Mr. T. McCabe recommending that 1999 appointments to both the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) and the Adaptive Re-use Committee (ARC) be deferred. Councillor J. Ziegler questioned if a merged committee would end up with fewer members than the number that presently sit on both committees. Mr. T. McCabe advised that staff wish to prepare draft terms of reference for a smaller committee composed of membership from various sectors that reflect areas for which expertise and advice is needed. Mr. McCabe pointed out to the Committee that the existing members of BIAC and ARC were previously informed of this proposed change. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that he supported the staff recommendation but suggested it be revised to inform current appointees of action to defer 1999 appointments to these two committees. Councillor J. Haalboom expressed reservation in regard to the staff recommendation and in response to her comments, Mr. T. McCabe suggested that it was time to look at a new committee and terms of reference. Councillor T. Galloway agreed that it was time to review the mandate of these two committees particularly in light of the re-organization that has taken place within City Hall with regards to the Planning and Economic Development functions. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler- It was resolved: "That Council defer any appointments to both the 1999 Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) and Adaptive Re-use Committee (ARC) pending consideration of one new Business Advisory Committee with a new Terms of Reference and membership which merges components of both committee mandates with a report on this matter to be submitted to the Planning and Economic Development Committee for its December 7, 1998 meeting; and further, That all individuals who submitted applications for appointment in 1999 to these Committees be advised of this deferral." Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this point. BPS 98/121 - 530 - 550 KING STREET EAST - ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION ZC 97/37/K/VL - MARIE PEEVER IN TRUST- CENTRE WARD The Committee was advised that the Department of Business and Planning Services was in receipt of an application from Marie Peever in Trust to change the zoning with regard to lands known municipally as 530 - 550 King Street East. The proposed by-law amendment would add a PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1998 - 180 - CITY OF KITCHENER special regulation provision to the property which is currently zoned Commercial Residential BPS 981121 530 - 550 KING STREET EAST - ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION ZC 97/37/K/VL MARIE PEEVER IN TRUST - CENTRE WARD (CONT'D) Four Zone (CR-4). This special regulation would facilitate the use of the existing building for a plaza complex, including a health clinic, with a reduced parking requirement of 32 spaces rather than 37 spaces and also allow a reduced setback for some parking spaces from King Street of zero metres. In this regard the Committee considered Staff Report BPS 98/121 dated October 16, 1998 and a proposed by-law dated September 22, 1998 attached to the report. It was noted in the report that the subject property was located on the north side of King Street East and extends between Betzner Avenue and Cameron Street. Further, the property is currently developed with a two storey office building and occupied by a plaza complex consisting of a health clinic and two non-health offices. It was pointed out that notice that the Committee would hold a public meeting this date to consider this matter had previously been given. Ms. C. Ladd provided a brief explanation of the purpose of the application making reference to the proposed reduction in parking from 37 spaces to 32 spaces and to allow some of the parking spaces to be located within zero metres of the King Street property line rather than 3 metres. She did note that the previous Zoning By-law 4830 permitted a zero metre setback from King Street. Mayor C. Zehr and Councillor G. Lorentz entered the meeting at this point. Mr. Paul Britton, MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited appeared as a delegation on behalf of Dr. Peever and Marie Peever and advised that his clients were in support of the recommendation in the staff report. He referred to the parking reduction request and illustrated a site plan which he stated would expand parking by four spaces ahead of the building line. Mr. Britton noted that a plan was being proposed that was previously approved in principle but subsequently affected by a change to the zoning by-law. Mr. Britton also stated that when the property was acquired by his clients it had only 24 parking spaces and that since the acquisition this has been increased to a potential of 32 spaces. Further he noted that the use of the building as a plaza complex would reduce the parking demands. Councillor J. Ziegler questioned what the vehicle traffic counts on King Street were. It was indicated that many thousands of vehicles pass the property daily. In response to Councillor Ziegler, Mr. P. Britton advised that he would determine what the daily turnover rate of vehicles would be within his client's parking lot. Mr. Britton also advised that his client was leasing 5 off-site parking spaces for use by staff working within the building. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison referred to a letter from Ms. Brenda Steffler discussing traffic concerns relating to volume and street parking on Betzner Avenue. She noted that the letter contained a request to reduce the parking restriction to between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and requested if trucks making deliveries to the building could be directed to utilize its parking lot rather than stopping on Betzner Avenue. Mr. Heinz Karrenbrock appeared as a delegation in support of the contents of a submission dated November 2, 1998 that he and his wife provided to the Committee. In this submission they strongly object to the approval recommendation in the staff report pertaining to the zone change for 530 - 550 King Street East. Mr. Karrenbrock made reference to portions of the submission and commented that staff were disregarding the City's by-law, traffic staff had opposed development on the subject property on 3 occasions, design standards had not been met, and that the Committee of Adjustment had previously refused variance applications respecting the subject lands. He then remarked that approval was being recommended by staff since Ms. C. Ladd was in a good position to assist her husband's firm. Mayor C. Zehr interjected and requested Mr. Karrenbrock to focus on the merits of the application to change the zoning. Mrs. Petra Karrenbrock who was also registered as a delegation strongly objected to the staff PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1998 - 181 - CITY OF KITCHENER recommendation in the report and stated that the property owners previously suggested she BPS 981121 530 - 550 KING STREET EAST - ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION ZC 97/37/K/VL MARIE PEEVER IN TRUST - CENTRE WARD CONT'D) move from her residence if she was unhappy with what they proposed. At this point, Mayor C. Zehr reminded Mr. & Mrs. Karrenbrock that the issue had previously been a subject of discussion and suggested that they not bring up accusations of a potential conflict of interest at this time. Mrs. P. Karrenbrock then made further remarks. Mr. H. Karrenbrock questioned if a neutral planning staff member could not have been assigned to work on the zone change application. Mr. T. McCabe objected to the suggestions made by the delegations and pointed out that the staff report represented a departmental position reflecting its opinion as to good planning that was evidenced through the approval signatures of both the Assistant General Manager and the General Manager of the Department of Business and Planning Services. Mrs. P. Karrenbrock made further remarks to the Committee and indicated she had concluded her presentation objecting to the application. Mr. H. Karrenbrock then continued his presentation which had been interrupted. He stated that exhaust fumes from the parking lot were a health issue which negatively affected them as a result of the proximity of their home to the parking lot. Further, he noted that when he explained their case to his neighbours, they all supported him. He then talked about the lack of a site plan for over one year and commented that there were only 16 legal parking spaces but that 20 spaces existed. He then showed a map to Councillor J. Ziegler and to the Chair outlining the 20 spaces. The map was left with the secretary of the Committee. Various questions were posed by Councillor J. Ziegler and it was indicated that the Karrenbrocks have lived in their residence since 1979, that approximately 15,500 vehicles pass the subject King Street property per day, that the Karrenbrock property zoning is similar to that of the subject property being Commercial Residential Four Zone (CR-4) and that the Karrenbrock property was approximately 17 metres from King Street. In conclusion, Mr. Karrenbrock commented that he has known for two and a half years that the Committee and City Council would approve the zone change application. No other delegations were registered respecting this matter. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison commented that meetings have been held with the neighbourhood, neighbours are not opposed to the clinic and are generally not concerned with the traffic the clinic generates. Further she stated that she had never seen the parking lot completely full during the last year that she has been monitoring the property. She did indicate that there appeared to be a problem with cars left idling outside the clinic and that Traffic staff propose to monitor the problem. Councillor M. Yantzi stated that he walked by the subject property everyday and confirmed that there was no congestion in the existing parking lot. He suggested that incentives to make available employer sponsored transit passes be considered for staff of this facility and any other development in a similar circumstance. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that while he was sympathetic to the health concerns expressed by the delegation, it was King Street that was the source of exhaust pollution. In this regard he noted that greater pressure was being placed on higher levels of government to clean up gasoline. Councillor B. Vrbanovic referred to the question of what other parking options there might be with respect to Betzner Avenue. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison indicated that residents of Betzner Avenue did not want the no parking restriction removed but did want the times adjusted to apply between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1998 - 182 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. BPS 98/121 530 - 550 KING STREET EAST - ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION ZC 97/37/K/VL MARIE PEEVER IN TRUST - CENTRE WARD (CONT'D) Councillor Jake Smola entered the meeting at this point. Councillor J. Haalboom questioned if the concern expressed with regard to delivery vans stopping on Betzner Avenue had been addressed. Mrs. M. Peever, who was in attendance, advised the Committee that the suppliers doing business at the property would be asked to direct their vans to the company's parking lot and avoid stopping on Betzner Avenue. On motion by Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison - It was resolved: " That Zone Change Application ZC 97/37/KNL (Marie Peever in Trust 530-550 King Street East), requesting a special regulation provision to be added to the Commercial Residential Four Zone (CR-4) according to By-law 85-1 on lands legally described as Lots 1 and 2, Registered Plan 100 and Part Lots 9, 10, and 11 Reg. Plan 323 be approved, in the form shown in the "Proposed By-law" attached, dated August 13, 1998, without conditions. It is the opinion of this Committee that approval of this application is proper planning for the City and is in conformity with the City's Municipal Plan." It was suggested that direction be given with regard to the length of parking prohibition on Betzner Avenue. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic- It was resolved: "That staff be requested to consider changing the parking prohibition on Betzner Avenue North from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and report to the Public Works and Transportation Committee." SAFE CITIES Councillor J. Haalboom commented on a seminar given by John MacDonald on Safe Cities and questioned if staff would be preparing a report. Mr. B. Stanley advised that the Study regarding Safe Cities has resulted in the preparation of a large report which will be made available to City Staff. Aspects of the report will be incorporated into the Urban Design Standards and he indicated concurrence that staff and people in the development industry required training in this field Relating to another aspect of the report, he advised that the Study was applied to the downtown area but that staff wish to investigate the Study's applicability in suburban settings and will be suggesting consideration of a pilot study in this regard. 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1998 - 183 - CITY OF KITCHENER L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk