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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2022-07-18 SSpecial Council Meeting Minutes July 18, 2022, 1:00 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 of Planning A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk N. Goss, Manager, Policy & Research L. Walter, Manager of Maintenance & Operations D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Blake, Committee Administrator M. Mills, Committee Administrator I . Commencement A special electronic meeting of City Council was held at 1:00pm 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 - Proposed Growth Approach and Draft Policies - DSD -2022-313, DSD -2022-313 Council considered Regional Official Plan Review -Proposed Growth Approach and Draft Policies -DSD -2022-313, dated July 13, 2022, including a summary of Regional staffs recommended growth approach, and the key Regional Official Plan (ROP) policies, and implications for Kitchener; to evaluate how Kitchener Council's priorities align with the preferred growth approach and policies; to provide City staff comments on the preferred growth approach and draft policies for Council endorsement; and, to provide City Council with an opportunity to provide additional comments to the Region. Council was in receipt of written submissions from G. Schnek, I. McLean, Chamber of Commerce, P. Britten, MHBC Planning, K. Reimer -Watts, M. Flowers, Davies Howe LLP, J. Brook, K. Elgie and S. Atos. R. Bustamante, Director, Planning, R. Regier, R. Pogrzeba and B. MacKinnon, Region of Waterloo were in attendance to respond to questions from Council. N. Goss presented to Council the Official Plan and Proposed Growth Approach. N. Goss noted that on June 13, 2022 Kitchener City Council passed a motion for the Region's consideration, as they finalized their preferred growth approach and related official plan policies. On June 29, 2022 the preferred growth approach was endorsed by Regional Council and an official plan amendment was tabled for public input throughout July. N. Goss outlined how the preferred growth approach and Official Plan policies align with council's priorities from the June 13 motion including considering approaches to the current housing deficit and the number of units, the report addresses the limitations in the provincially prescribed Land Needs Assessment (LNA) methodology, and the requirement for the region to plan and confirm 30 years of employment and housing growth, considering low, medium and high density categories and market conditions to meet housing needs across the board. N. Goss noted that the Region will be continuing conversations with the community and stakeholders throughout July with a statutory public meeting on the official plan amendment set for July 27, 2022, followed in August with a recommendation to regional council to adopt the final regional official plan amendment. N. Goss summarized that the preferred gross scenario follows the prescribed LNA methodology and addresses most of council's priorities. Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor P. Singh, Councillor S. Davey, and Councillor D. Schnider declared a conflict with regards to the proposed Ottawa Street transit corridor due to close proximity of the proposed corridor to their personal property or families' properties. K. Thomason addressed Council in support of the staff report, urging Council to endorse the staff report to avoid farmland destruction and urban sprawl. K. Thomason responded to questions from Council. P. Britton, MHBC, Planning, addressed Council in support of the regional official plan, confirming a need for significant urban expansion in Kitchener. P. Britton responded to questions from council. M. Flowers, Davies Howe LLP, representing Schlegel Urban Developments, addressed Council in opposition, noting procedural concerns with the agenda publication and delegation timelines. M. Flowers expressed concerns with the Region's preferred growth scenario and the substance of the staff report noting that the region's preferred growth plan is not appropriate and does not adhere to the provincially required LNA methodology, that no new designated greenfield area has been assigned to Kitchener and is instead allocated to the Townships, and that the staff report fails to recognize the BSF2 lands as an appropriate location for growth. M. Flowers urged Council not endorse the staff report, on the basis of the amount of land or location. M. Flower's responded to questions from Council. Questions were raised regarding whether any analyses of environmental sustainability were performed comparing greenfield growth in the Townships to Southwest Kitchener. N. Goss stated a sustainability technical study was prepared by the Region, and R. Regier advised Council that the policy recommendation regarding the community expansion areas in the Townships is a part of a larger strategy related to complete communities attempting to support the reduction in single occupancy vehicles into the urban area of the Region, and that there are multiple policy objectives involved throughout the proposed Regional Official Plan Amendment including sustainability. B. MacKinnon explained the structure of the sustainability analysis performed in partnership with Sustainable Solutions Group (SSG) Consulting to Council, stating that SSG Consulting analyzed the Region's preferred recommended approach to growth, and suggested that it was the most efficient option for the reduction of greenhouse gases based on a slight increase in community area expansion. Questions were raised regarding the targets the Region is referencing for population growth estimates and the number of homes per capita, with concerns expressed due to the ongoing deficit of homes and falling below the G7's average number of homes per capita. B. MacKinnon responded to Council, noting that the population estimates used are derived from the Province's 2020 Places to Grow Schedule 3 Plan performed by Henson Consulting. B. MacKinnon stated that the Province's Plan forecasts the population growth for 30 years, and advised Council that the Region is accommodating the population through their growth and development of land and housing units. B. MacKinnon noted that the Region is required to implement and plan their preferred recommended approach based on the numbers forecasted by the Province. Clarification was sought with regards to the intensification target assigned to Kitchener. B. MacKinnon stated that the 61 % intensification target accounts for the Region overall, and explained that each municipality has its own intensification target. Inquiries regarding infill, and whether the Region believes a large amount of Designated Greenfield Area (DGA) is required was asked of Regional staff. R. Regier stated that Kitchener has the benefit of excellent transit services and inventory of underdeveloped land in station areas that will provide a large amount of housing over the coming decades, referencing the Schneider's redevelopment site as an example of a large scale project that intensifies underutilized parcels in transit supportive areas. Council raised questions regarding farmland in Townships in comparison to within urban boundaries that already have infrastructure in place. R. Regier stated that the Regional vision includes urban and rural communities, and that significant investment is being allocated to the ongoing development of the City of Kitchener through higher order transit services, the potential intensification corridor, and active transportation networks. R. Regier noted that the Region's partnership with the City of Kitchener assists in achieving their overall regional goal for sustainability and for complete communities in each of the area municipalities within their respective servicing constraints. Questions were raised regarding the proposed plan's ability to meet the needs of those intending to live in Townships or single detached homes, in comparison to living in the downtown corridor and high rises. R. Regier stated that providing a housing mix that meets the needs of the community is a key consideration including provision of single detached houses and apartments. R. Reiger noted that the Regional Official Plan recognizes that there is a significant inventory of 4 land across the spectrum of densities available in the industry, and advised Council that there is also ample supply of low-density housing. Inquiries regarding whether the 150 hectares of developable land would be sufficient to meet the Provincial density targets, and whether the Regional Official Plan could be modified in the future were raised. R. Regier stated that the new DGA in the Townships are forecasted to be significantly higher. R. Regier noted that the Region is obliged to review the Regional Official Plan every 5 years, and must perform a Municipal Comprehensive Review. Questions were raised with regards to how the Region's Plan considers concerns for shortages of green space. R. Regier noted that the allocation of greenspace is within the responsibility of the area municipality to interpret the policy and to determine what is needed on the ground level. Questions were raised regarding the concerns of local stakeholders and whether the Region's Plan will support the housing needs of the future, and staff advised Council that the Region takes into account the number of units, amount of land and the densities being built in the planning process to determine how much development is possible, and noted that there is currently a significant inventory of housing being developed that can address these concerns. Council raised questions regarding the Region's consideration of the Schlegel delegation's LNA, as the data the Regional Plan is based on is from 2019. Regional staff stated that there are differences in their assumptions that may result in different calculations, and that they have not yet reviewed the delegation data. Questions were raised about how the proposed plan aims to address affordable housing and climate emergencies. Regional staff noted that the proposed plan rethinks the way communities have been designed to transition to transit supportive, walkable communities, assisting with the issue of affordability by decreasing the need for a second vehicle. Questions were raised regarding the Region's perspective on the current housing supply, and whether there is a shortage. Regional staff stated that they are interested in analyzing the question of a supply crisis and tools to mobilize supply, and advised council that the land supply is not constraining the housing supply and a significant amount of land is in the development process. Questions were raised regarding discrepancies in independent organization and G7 data, and the Region's report, and with the ability to track data for subsequent versions of the Regional Official Plan. R. Regier stated they intend to work closely City of Kitchener Planning staff to implement a process for monitoring the Regional 47 Official Plan, and to ensure there is language in the plan to account for this process. Mayor B. Vrbanovic vacated the Chair. Councillor B. loannidis assumed the Chair. Questions were raised regarding the proposed Ottawa Street Corridor's height and density, as many established neighborhoods are already along that corridor. R. Regier stated that the corridor has significant opportunity for intensification with low density land use, and increased opportunity for 15 minute communities. Mayor B. Vrbanovic assumed the Chair. Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock brought forward a motion, which was seconded by Councillor S. Marsh that no further action be taken beyond concerns shared formally the Special Council meeting on June 13, 2022. Councillor M. Johnston requested a recorded vote and Mayor B. Vrbanovic requested that each item be voted on separately. Councillor B. loannidis assumed the Chair to conduct the vote on Clause 3 due to the Mayor's declared conflict. Moved by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock Seconded by Councillor S. Marsh "That no further action be taken beyond concerns shared formally on June 13, 2022; and, That Development Services Department report DSD -2022-313, and any comments from the meeting today be forwarded to Regional Council as additional information for their consideration; and further, That the proposed new Regional Intensification Corridor along the entire length of Ottawa Street in Kitchener to Fountain Street in Woolwich, outlined in Development Services Department report DSD -2022-313 be supported." Clause 1 - Carried on a recorded vote. In Favour (9): Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D. Schnider, Councillor J. Gazzola, Councillor C. Michaud, Councillor K. Gal loway-Sealock, Councillor S. Singh, Councillor B. lonnidis, Councillor M. Johnston, Mayor B. Vrbanovic. 6 Contra (2): Councillor D. Chapman, Councillor S. Marsh. Clause 2 - Carried unanimously on a recorded vote. Clause 3 - Carried unanimously on a recorded vote. In Favour (7): Councillor J. Gazzola, Councillor K. Sealock, Councillor C. Michaud, Councillor M. Johnston, Councillor D. Chapman, Councillor S. Marsh, Councillor B. lonnidis. Conflict (4): Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor P. Singh, Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D. Schnider. Carried, on a recorded vote 3. By-laws Mayor B. Vrbanovic assumed the Chair. 3.1Three Readings Moved by Councillor B. loannidis Seconded by Councillor S. Davey "That the by-laws be given third reading, namely: 3.1.a To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council for July 18, 2022. 4. Adjournment On motion the meeting adjourned at 4:18pm. sr OEM np --Am re3 9 Carried 7