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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 1999-01-11PED\1999-01-11 PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 3:55 p.m. under Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, with the following members present: Councillors Jake Smola, M. Yantzi, J. Ziegler, K. Taylor-Harrison, B. Vrbanovic and John Smola. Councillors G. Lorentz and T. Galloway entered the meeting shortly after its commencement. Officials present: Ms. C. Ladd, L. MacDonald and Messrs. J. Gazzola, T. McCabe, B. Stanley, D. Mansell, J. Witmer, L. Masseo, P. Wetherup and L.W. Neil. 1.BPS 99/3-HURON BUSINESS PARK, PHASES II AND III, OFFERS TO PURCHASE BPS 99/4-SITE 133; SITES 135, 136, 137 & 154; SITES 118 & 119 BPS 99/5-ANCHOR GROUP INCORPORATED (BLM) - SOUTH WARD The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff reports BPS 99/3, 99/4 and 99/5 dealing with offers to purchase submitted by James McConnell in Trust for a company to be incorporated at a later date (BLM Distribution Systems). The offers are outlined as follows: - BPS 99/3 deals with Site 133 in Phase III of the Huron Business Park, otherwise known as Part 5 on Reference Plan 58R-6714 - BPS 99/4 deals with Sites 135, 136, 137 and 154 in Phase III of the Huron Business Park, better known as Parts 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 on Reference Plan 58R-11564 - BPS 99/5 deals with Sites 118 and 119 in Phase II of the Huron Business Park, otherwise known as Parts 13 & 14 on Reference Plan 58R-5840 Details respecting the individual offers are outlined in the respective staff reports. Mr. T. McCabe briefly reviewed the three offers and asked that the Committee consider a comprehensive resolution respecting the three offers rather than the individual recommendations contained in the staff reports. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - It was resolved: "That the City accept three Offers to Purchase, as outlined in staff reports BPS#99/3; BPS#99/4 and BPS#99/5, from James McConnell in Trust for a company to be incorporated at a later date with respect to lands composed of Parts 13 and 14 on Reference Plan 58R- 5840; Part 5 on Reference Plan 58R-6714; and Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, & 7 on Reference Plan 58R-11564; having a total area of about 23.14 acres and a total purchase price of $1,294,500; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute any other necessary documentation required by the City Solicitor." 2.BPS 99/6 -HURON BUSINESS PARK, PHASE II -REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF OPTION AGREEMENT DATE -SITES 82E & 82C -ELOCAB SONDERKABEL GMBH CO. KG - SOUTH WARD The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 99/6 dealing with a request received from elocab Sonderkabel GmbH & Co. KG to extend the date of an existing option agreement in order for an offer to purchase to be executed when the company's signing authority returns to Canada. Mr. T. McCabe briefly reviewed the contents of the report and advised that staff had nothing further to add. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999-2 -CITY OF KITCHENER 2.BPS 99/6 -HURON BUSINESS PARK, PHASE II -REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF OPTION AGREEMENT DATE -SITES 82E & 82C -ELOCAB SONDERKABEL GMBH CO. KG - SOUTH WARD (CONT'D) On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler – It was resolved: "That the request of elocab Sonderkabel GmbH & Co. KG by its letter dated December 23, 1998 relative to the expiry of the option period set out in the Option Agreement dated March 28, 1996 between elocab Sonderkabel GmbH & Co. KG and The Corporation of the City of Kitchener to be extended from 12 o’clock noon on January 15, 1999 to 12 o’clock noon on February 22, 1999 for the lands described as Parts 1 and 3 on Reference Plan 58R-6949 in the Huron Business Park, be supported; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute any other necessary documentation required by the City Solicitor." 3.BPS 99/7-LANCASTER CORPORATE CENTRE -OFFER TO PURCHASE - SITE 3C -CAMERON KELLER IN TRUST - BRIDGEPORT-NORTH WARD The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 99/7 dealing with an offer to purchase Lot 3C in the Lancaster Corporate Centre. Mr. T. McCabe briefly reviewed the report and advised that staff had nothing further to add. On motion by Councillor John Smola - It was resolved: "That the City accept the Offer to Purchase from Cameron Keller in Trust for a Company to be Incorporated for Lot 3C in the Lancaster Corporate Centre, better known as Parts 4, 5 & 6 on Reference Plan 58R-10893 save and except Parts 1, 2 & 3 on Reference Plan 58R- 11437 and having an area of about .74 acres on Riverbend Drive for the total purchase price of $125,240; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute any other necessary documentation required by the City Solicitor." 4.BPS 98/154-DEMOLITION REQUESTS RE: HIGHWAY #8 WIDENING PROJECT -M.T.O. - 27, 33 & 39 SHANTZ LANE AND 19 & 30 ROSS AVENUE -REGION - 41 ROSS AVENUE -CITY REQUEST OF M.T.O. TO PURCHASE 25, 34, 35 & 40 ROSS AVENUE - CHICOPEE WARD The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 98/154 dated December 30, 1998 dealing with the Highway #8 widening project of the Ministry of Transportation. The major elements of the project were listed in the report as well as details relative to required demolition of residential dwellings. Also mentioned in the report was a concern as to the viability of 4 dwellings that would remain on Ross Avenue between Weber Street and Highway #8. Ms. C. Ladd briefly reviewed the report and noted that since some of the properties proposed for demolition were not specifically listed several years ago it would be prudent to identify them within a recommendation authorizing demolition. As well, she pointed out that another purpose of the recommendation was to attempt to encourage the Ministry of Transportation to purchase the remaining residential dwellings that have become an enclave on Ross Avenue as a result of the project and advised that residents have expressed concerns about property values and potential noise. Regional Council previously directed staff to request the MTO to either purchase the PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999-3 -CITY OF KITCHENER remaining properties on Ross Avenue or consider additional noise attenuation for the area; however, the MTO has not acted in this regard. 4.BPS 98/154-DEMOLITION REQUESTS RE: HIGHWAY #8 WIDENING PROJECT -M.T.O. - 27, 33 & 39 SHANTZ LANE AND 19 & 30 ROSS AVENUE -REGION - 41 ROSS AVENUE -CITY REQUEST OF M.T.O. TO PURCHASE 25, 34, 35 & 40 ROSS AVENUE - CHICOPEE WARD (CONT'D) Councillor B. Vrbanovic asked that the staff recommendation be deferred as affected residents do have concerns but have not been circulated with the staff report. Mr. L. Masseo pointed out that the process has been ongoing for 10 years and suggested it was a rather late date for Council to stall the demolition approval given that the project has now commenced. He pointed out that residents were aware of the impacts of the project and were circulated when the matter was dealt with at the regional level last fall. Councillors G. Lorentz and T. Galloway entered the meeting at this point. Councillor Jake Smola requested an explanation of the request for deferral from Councillor B. Vrbanovic. Councillor Vrbanovic noted that his purpose was to seek leverage with the MTO with respect to the request to purchase the four isolated properties on Ross Avenue and to discuss neighbourhood issues of concern to the residents. Following some discussion Committee members were sympathetic to the impact that the project would have on the four remaining detached dwellings situated on Ross Avenue. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - It was resolved: "1)That City Council not approve the request of the Ministry of Transportation to demolish the residential structures at 27, 33 and 39 Shantz Lane and 19 and 30 Ross Avenue as part of the Highway #8 widening project; 2)That City Council formally request the Ministry of Transportation to purchase the remaining single detached dwellings on Ross Avenue, being 25, 34, 35 and 40 Ross Avenue, as part of the Highway #8 widening project; 3)That City Council grant approval to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to demolish the residential structure at 41 Ross Avenue as part of the Weber Street Widening project; 4)That the residents of the affected properties be informed of this resolution prior to the January 18, 1999 Council meeting." 5.BPS 98/156-DEFERRAL OF DEVELOPMENT CHARGES FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSIONS The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 98/156 dated January 6, 1999 dealing with the subject of deferral of development charges for industrial expansions. The staff report makes reference to the fact that Bill 98, the new Development Charges Act, received royal assent on December 8, 1997 and allowed municipalities a period of approximately 18 months in which to complete and enact new local development charges by-laws. The City is in the process of preparing its new by-law and anticipates approval between June and August of 1999. A Regional Area Municipal Development Charge Committee has been meeting as a group to work together to implement new provisions of the Act as well as grappling with common issues relating to the administration and implementation of development charges. One of the new provisions of the Act relates to the exemption from the payment of development charges for certain industrial development and this matter is discussed in detail within the report. Ms. C. Ladd referred to the recommendation in the staff report and advised that she wished to propose an alternate recommendation following consultation with the City's Legal Department. In this regard she proposed revised wording on the basis that the City has the authority to proceed at this time in accordance with Section 4 of the new Act. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999-4 -CITY OF KITCHENER 5.BPS 98/156-DEFERRAL OF DEVELOPMENT CHARGES FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSIONS (CONT'D) On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - It was resolved: "That the payment of development charges for enlargements to existing industrial buildings of up to fifty percent of the gross floor area before the enlargement be calculated in accordance with Section 4 of the new Development Charges Act, 1997 (Bill 98)." 6.BPS 98/157-CITY WIDE YOUTH ISSUES COMMITTEE STATUS REPORT The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 98/157 dated January 6, 1999 being a status report on the City Wide Youth Issues Committee which was created as a sub-committee in April of 1998 of the Kitchener Safe City Committee. The staff report details the objective, scope and purpose of the Committee along with its activities to date and discusses future directions. Mr. B. Stanley briefly reviewed the highlights of the report which was intended to bring Members of Council up to date on the Youth Issues Committee activities. He noted that the membership of the committee covers a wide variety of agencies. Specifically, he referred the Committee to the appendicies attached to the report and asked that they take note of the short and long term suggestions that have been developed. On motion by Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison - It was resolved: "That the City Wide Youth Issues Committee Status Report (BPS 98/157) of January 6, 1999 be received by Council for Information." 7.BPS 99/1-APPOINTMENT OF CO-CHAIRS FOR SAFE CITY COMMITTEE The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services staff report BPS 99/1 dated January 6, 1999. It was noted in the report that the Safe City Committee at its meeting held January 5, 1999 elected Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison and Ms. Sandro Bassanese as Co- Chairs and that adoption of the recommendation by the Planning and Economic Development Committee is requested. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - It was resolved: "That Sandro Bassanese and Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison be appointed as Co-Chairs of the Kitchener Safe City Committee." 8.APPOINTMENT OF MANAGER - BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Mr. T. McCabe introduced Ms. Kathy Smith who has been hired as the new Manager of the Business Enterprise Centre. 9.ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999-5 -CITY OF KITCHENER L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk