Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2022-05-30 SSpecial Council Meeting Minutes May 30, 2022, 12:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Gazzola Councillor C. Michaud Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. loannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor S. Marsh Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services L. MacDonald, City Solicitor B. Rowland, Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing R. Bustamante, Director, Planning A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk N. Goss, Manager Policy & Research T. Donegani, Senior Planner D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk 1 1. Commencement A special electronic meeting of City Council was held at 12:30 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic. Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. The electronic meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor. 2. Staff Reports 2.1 Regional Official Plan Review — Draft Land Needs Assessment, DSD -2022- 260 Council considered Development Services Department report DSD -2022-260 Regional Official Plan Review - Draft Land Needs Assessment dated May 25, 2022, related to the Region of Waterloo's Draft Land Needs Assessment (LNA), which includes a summary of the most important implications related to the three growth options for Kitchener. Council was also in receipt of written submissions from Paul Britton, MHBC Planning, Hal Jaeger, Gail Pool, Kai Reimer -Watts, Yvonne Fernandes, Peter Eglin, Dawn Parker and Schlegel Urban Developments Corp. Kitchener. Brenna MacKinnon, Manager, Greenfield Planning, Region of Waterloo was also in attendance to respond to questions from Council. Tim Donegani, Senior Planner presented the report, noting the intention of the meeting this date is for Council to potentially endorse a preferred growth option, or to provide comments or direction to the Region of Waterloo for the future growth of the municipality within the review of the Regional Official Plan (ROPR). T. Donegani advised in March and August of 2021, staff presented aspects of the ROPR to Kitchener Council. Since that time, the Region has tabled growth options and a draft Land Needs Assessment (LNA) at Regional Council. T. Donegani further advised there are three growth options within the LNA to address planning for growth across the Region, by 2051 anticipated to see an increase in population to 923,000 people, including an increase of 470,000 jobs. T. Donegani provided an overview of the City's Official Plan and responded to questions related to the Countryside Line, future development opportunities in Southwest Kitchener Policy Area (SPKA) including a review of the Regional recharge area, the 2021 Census data and the impact on the Lands Needs Assessment of housing diversity and housing demand. In response to questions, it is anticipated Regional Council is due to consider the Land Needs Assessment in August of this year. B. MacKinnon noted Regional staff continue to review options and anticipate presenting a fourth option, that is E due to be shared with the area municipalities as soon as it available. B. MacKinnon further advised Regional staff continue to work with the Ministry to demonstrate forward action to achieve approval, noting if approval by the current Provincial deadline is not able to be achieved, it is still staffs' goal to obtain approval within this term of Council. B. MacKinnon indicated there are a number of municipalities that maybe formally seeking extensions to the Provincial deadline. Mayor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time, Councillor S. Davey assumed the Chair. P. Britton, MHBC Planning, addressed Council expressing concerns with the Land Needs Assessment including the proposed housing demand targets being possibly too low, the Region capacity approach, the key Designated Greenfield Area (DGA) inputs, vacant land analysis, shortfall in community area, and, planned densities and intensification. P. Britton stated it was his opinion that the Region's draft LNA underestimates the total amount of housing that will be required, assumes a proposed housing mix for options 2 and 3 that cannot be achieved given available housing supply, significantly over-estimates the available supply of vacant land to accommodate homes, and, proposes density and intensification targets that are unlikely to be achieved in some municipalities. Mayor B. Vrbanovic reentered the meeting at this time and assumed the Chair. Kevin Tomason addressed Council in opposition to Options 1 through 3 as provided by the Region related to the Draft Land Needs Assessment for the City. K. Tomason stated local residents have put forward an alternative option that they are referring to as Option 4, which can be found at the Smart Growth Waterloo website. K. Tomason stated Option 4, as proposed by the Community, would have no farmland loss and would continue with current growth trends. K. Tomason then responded to questions from Council. Kevin Eby expressed concerns with the proposed timeline to approve the Land Needs Assessment, stating unknowns such as climate change, housing for seniors, housing affordability and loss of agricultural lands. K. Eby requested Council ask for additional time to address these factors prior to considering approving a 30 -year plan that is sustainable in growth. Mark Reusser, Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, addressed Council related to future land use planning and the Lands Needs Assessment, noting that rural lands surrounding the City's urban environment help to contribute to the Region's success. M. Reusser stated the City is a leader in farmland protection in the 3 Province, and noted on behalf of Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, they were also in support of Option 4 as proposed by the Community. Robert Howe addressed Council on behalf of Grambian Investments who own lands in southwest Kitchener, as well as 25 hectares located in the SKPA currently designated rural in the Official Plan. R. Howe noted the draft Land Needs Assessment currently being reviewed by the Region will help to establish the Urban Boundary, not the Countryside Line. R. Howe stated the Grambian and Activa lands have received confirmation from the Region of Waterloo that they are not located with the Regional recharge area and would be located within the Countryside Line boundary as per the policies of the Regional Official Plan. R. Howe further advised the Grambian and Activa lands would not be in breach of the Countryside Line if they were included inside the urban boundary. R. Howe expressed concerns that the proposed Land Needs Assessment includes DGA lands that are not available to be developed. R. Howe stated they are not in support of any of the Options proposed to date. Matthew Cory and Don Given, addressed Council on behalf of Schlegel Urban Developments Corp. Kitchener, noting they completed a Land Needs Assessment for the City, and expressed concerns that the proposed Options from the Region do not have a fulsome medium density component included within it. The Mayor noted due to time constraints it was requested that this matter be referred to Unfinished Business at the Council meeting later this date. Moved by Councillor P. Singh Seconded by Councillor K. Gall oway-Sealock "That Development Services Department report DSD -2022-260 be referred to Unfinished Business portion of the Council agenda later this date, to allow members of Council to further discuss Region of Waterloo Official Plan - Draft Land Needs Assessment to further discuss what comments should be forwarded to the Region for further consideration." 3. In -camera Meeting Authorization Moved by Councillor S. Davey Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider Carried M "That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following the special council meeting this date to consider a commercial information/contractual of other negotiation matter and a matter of solicitor client privilege as authorized by Sections 239 (f) and (i) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively." 4. Adjournment On motion the meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m. 5, Video Livestream Meeting Video Livestream 1-1-C ��10 C I el Carried 5