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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2023-03-06Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes March 6, 2023, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. loannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor A. Clancy Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services G. Stevenson, Interim Director, Planning T. MaloneWright, Interim, Manager, Development Planning D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk B. Bateman, Senior Planner A. Pinnell, Senior Planner M. Blake, Committee Administrator 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:03 p.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 1 2.1 Councillor S. Davey - Official Plan Amendment OPA21/009/K/AP and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA21/014/K/AP, 4396 King Street East & 25 Sportsworld Drive, Sportsworld Shopping Centre and Taylorwood Park Homes Inc, DSD -2023-021 Councillor S. Davey declared a conflict with item 5.2. on the agenda this date with regards to the Official Plan Amendment OPA21/009/K/AP and Zoning By- law Amendment ZBA21 /014/K/AP, 4396 King Street East & 25 Sportsworld Drive, Sportsworld Shopping Centre and Taylorwood Park Homes Inc, DSD - 2023 -021, due to the subject property being close to his spouses' place of employment. 3. Consent Items 3.1 None. 4. Discussion Items 4.1 None. 5. Public Hearing Matters under the Planning Act (7:00 p.m.) This is a formal public meeting to consider applications under the Planning Act. If a person or public body does not make oral or written submissions to the City of Kitchener before the proposed applications are considered, the person or public body may not be entitled to appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal and may not be added as a party to a hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal. 5.1 Official Plan Amendment OPA22/10/C/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/17/C/BB, 45-53 Courtland Avenue East, Cantiro Courtland GP, DSD - 2023 -065 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023- 065, dated February 3, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA22/10/C/BB, and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA22/17/C/BB, for the property municipally addressed as 45-53 Courtland Avenue East. B. Bateman, Senior Planner, presented the report, noting staff are recommending approval of the subject Official Plan Amendment and Zone Change application. B. Bateman stated staff are proposing a minor amendment this date to the Official Plan amendment and Zoning By-law to clarify that the Floor Space Ratio (FSR) will be used to measure density (references to a site- specific unit/hectare density are not applicable and are removed as the proposal 2 will meet the increased FSR); and, to confirm the required and visitor parking requirements are represented only as rates (based on number of units). In the previous version, both a rate and an absolute number were proposed, but that does not allow flexibility at the site planning stage should the proposal proceed with a different number of units (+/- a few units based on final design). G. Stevenson further advised, that with the proposed amendments, staff are also requesting that an additional clause be included in the recommendation indicating "That pursuant to Section 34(17) and of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended, and further notice if not required to be given in respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/17/C/BB." A. Sinclair and J. von Westerholt, MHBC Planning, and P. Fereday and S. Fraser, Cantiro Group were in attendance in support of the subject applications. A. Sinclair provided an overview of the proposed development, noting support for the amended staff recommendation. A. Sinclair further advised while this development does not have specific units identified for affordable housing, the applicant was able to increase the number of affordable housing units in another project currently in development. A. Sinclair responded to questions from the Committee, noting the applicant is committed to working with the neighbouring property owners to finalize development items including items such as lot grading and visual barriers. J. Peller addressed Committee in support of the proposed Official Plan amendment and Zone Change Application. J. Peller stated the Schneider Creek Neighbourhood is supportive of development and thankful to work with Cantiro who has worked to receive feedback from the adjacent property owners and have tried to address any feedback from the neighbours into the proposed development. J. Peller expressed further appreciation for the confirmation that the applicant is still prepared to conduct a site walk through with the residents to confirm additional details, including but not limited to the following: visual barriers, lighting etc. Councillor A. Owodunni brought forward a motion to approve Official Plan Amendment OPA22/10/C/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/17/C/BB, including the proposed amendments requested by Planning staff this date. On motion by Councillor A. Owodunni it was resolved: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA22/10/C/BB for Cantiro Courtland GP requesting a change to the Land Use Designation on the parcel of land specified and illustrated on Schedule `A', be adopted, in the 3 form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2023-065 as Appendix'A' and 'Al', as amended, and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA22/17/C/BB for Cantiro Courtland GP, for the property municipally addressed as 45-53 Courtland Avenue East, be approved in the form shown in the "Proposed By-law" and "Map No. 1" attached to Report DSD -2023-065 as Appendix `B' and '131' and as amended; and further, That pursuant to Section 34(17) and of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended, and further notice if not required to be given in respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/17/C/BB." Carried, as amended 5.2 Official Plan Amendment OPA21/009/K/AP and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA21/014/K/AP, 4396 King Street East & 25 Sportsworld Drive, Sportsworld Shopping Centre and Taylorwood Park Homes Inc, DSD - 2023 -021 Councillor S. Davey declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor S. Davey declared a conflict with item 5.2. on the agenda this date with regards to the Official Plan Amendment OPA21/009/K/AP and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA21/014/K/AP, 4396 King Street East & 25 Sportsworld Drive, Sportsworld Shopping Centre and Taylorwood Park Homes Inc, DSD -2023-021, due to the subject property being close to his spouses' place of employment.) Councillor S. Davey left the meeting at this time. The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023- 021, dated February 17, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/009/K/AP; adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA21/014/K/AP for the properties municipally addressed as 4396 King Street East and 25 Sportsworld Drive. A. Pinnell, Senior Planner, presented the report. G. Stevenson and T. Malone - Wright were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. K. Barisdale, GSP Group, provided an overview of the proposed development, expressing support of the subject applications and the staff recommendation. K. M Barisdale responded to questions related to sustainable development options, building height and affordable housing units. J. Hughes addressed Committee in opposition to the subject applications, noting there were approximately 80 written submissions were included with the staff report and the majority of them were in opposition to the proposed development. J. Hughes expressed concerns with safety concerns related to increase traffic demands; insufficient greenspace; insufficient parking; impacts of construction on groundwater; and, school transportation safety. Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time and Councillor D. Chapman assumed the Chair. B. Connell addressed Committee in opposition to the subject application. B. Connell expressed concerns with the lack of greenspace in the area to support the residents of the proposed development, as well as concerns related to increased traffic and concerns for safety. Councillor P. Singh returned to the meeting at this time and assumed the Chair. A. Pinnell responded to questions from the Committee related to traffic concerns, noting a Transportation Impact Study (TIS) was completed and has been reviewed by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), the Region of Waterloo and the City's Transportation Services, who have all have accepted the findings of the report. A. Pinnell further responded to the comments about insufficient greenspace, noting there are three active parks within the vicinity of the proposed development. A. Pinnell stated the area is subject to review for future amenity space review and expansion. A. Pinnell addressed the comments related to school bus loading zones, noting comments have been received from both respective School boards and staff have confirmation that the students would be bussed to the nearest schools, similar to those students in the Pioneer Tower West Community. A. Pinnell stated school bus loading zones are a matter for Site Plan approval. A. Pinnell further advised while there is a parking reduction being requested, the parking reduction in minor and the development is in close proximity of active transportation and public transit opportunities. Finally, A. Pinnell indicated staff have reviewed all of the comments received from the residents thoroughly and have attempted to address the concerns within the limits the Official Plan and Zoning By-law approval process. Several members expressed concerns with the traffic congestion within the vicinity of the property and questioned the recommendations outlined in the TIS and what may trigger a recommendation for an intersection upgrade. J. Readman indicated TIS does identify traffic congestion at peak times, the study G� concluded that the development would have marginal impacts on the current traffic volumes. In response to further questions, J. Readman advised staff have had discussions with the MTO related to the east and west bound access to the 401, commenting that there have been some discussion in regards to access improvements, staff could follow up with the MTO prior to the Council meeting to confirm if they had any additional information related to those access ramps. In response to further questions, A. Pinnell stated the Region of Waterloo has reviewed the study and have accepted the recommendations. Questions were raised regarding the merits of the application and whether other developments were reviewed when making the recommendation for this development. A. Pinnell advised each application is considered on its own merit. Applications are reviewed through a number of tests, including but not limited to: the Official Plan policies, Zoning regulations, shadowing, transitional policies and height policies. A. Pinnell indicated these applications have met the criteria of those tests to be recommended for approval. G. Stevenson further advised the subject property is located within a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA), while the applications are amendments to the new Zoning By-law, the intention for MTSA's have been planned and identified for some time to increase the density in areas in the vicinity of rapid transit stations to support the transit system. In response to further questions, G. Stevenson advised for clarification a Zone Change application was previously approved by Council for the properties municipally addressed as 4220 King Street East and 25 Sportsworld Crossing Road, that development was approved for a height of 18 stories. Councillor D. Chapman noted the comment from the Schoolboard related to school bus loading zones. G. Stevenson advised the comment received about the proposed loading zone is advisory at this moment, that matter was a matter for Site Plan approval. In response to further questions about whether the site was a candidate for sustainable heating sources, A. Pinnell advised the site was not a candidate for district energy, indicating the Region had not provided comments related to geothermal. A. Pinnell stated those matters would be addressed through the Site Plan approval process. At the request of Committee, G. Stevenson advised staff could provide additional information prior to the Council meeting on the matters raised during the discussion this date, specifically report back with additional information on the MTO related to the existing highway access; further information on the TIS, and proposed amenity space. G. Stevenson clarified that matters such as school pick up zones, geothermal heating and final amenity space are matters that are fully scoped within the Site Plan Approval stage so fulsome responses on these matters may not be available at that time. On motion by Councillor D. Chapman it was resolved: "That the following resolution be deferred to the March 20, 2023 Council meeting to allow an opportunity to further review and provide additional information on the Transportation Impact Study, future Ministry of Transportation (MTO) connections, potential school bus loading zones, additional on-site amenity spaces; and, sustainable development options including geothermal: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/009/K/AP for Sportsworld Shopping Centre and Taylorwood Park Homes Inc. requesting a change in land use designation from Commercial Campus to Mixed Use with Specific Policy Area No. 59 to permit a high intensity mixed use development on the lands specified and illustrated on Schedule `A' and Schedule 'B', be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2023-021 as Attachments `A1' `A2' and `A3', and, accordingly, forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for approval; and, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA21/014/K/AP for Sportsworld Shopping Centre & Taylorwood Park Homes Inc., for the property municipally addressed as 4396 King Street East & 25 Sportsworld Drive, be approved in the form shown in the Proposed By- law and Map No. 1, attached to report DSD -2023-021 as Attachments '131' and `132'; and further, That the Urban Design Brief prepared by GSP Group Inc., dated February 2023, and attached as Attachment 'C' to report DSD -2023- 021 be endorsed, and that staff be directed to implement the Urban Design Brief through future Site Plan Approval processes." Carried 6. Information Items 6.1 Significant Planning Applications Update - Quarterly Report - DSD -2023-084 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Dianna Saunderson 7 Manager, Council and Committee Services/ Deputy Clerk