HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2023-05-08Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Committee Minutes
May 8, 2023, 3:00 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 D. Chapman
Councillor A. Clancy
Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
G. Stevenson, Interim Director of Planning
A. Pinnell, Senior Planner
A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
M. Blake, Committee Administrator
1. Commencement
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date
commencing at 3:30 p.m.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
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3. Consent Items
3.1 None.
4. Public Hearing Matters under the Planning Act (advertised)
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.
4.1 Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/010/L/AP and Zoning By-law
Amendment Application ZBA21/015/L/AP, 528-550 Lancaster Street West
and 26 Bridge Street West, DSD -2023-193
The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023-
193, dated April 20, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment
Application OPA21/010/L/AP and Zoning By-law Amendment Application
ZBA21/015/L/AP, for the property municipally addressed as 528 and 550
Lancaster Street West; and, adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application
ZBA22/023/B/AP, for the property municipally addressed as 26 Bridge Street
West. The Committee was also in receipt of written submissions from M. Mains,
R. Howe, Goodmans LLP, E. Menage, and S. Campbell.
A. Pinnell, Senior Planner presented an overview of the staff report. G.
Stevenson, Interim Director of Planning and T. Malone, Interim Manager of
Development Review & Management were also in attendance to respond to
questions from the Committee.
P. Chauvin, MHBC Planning and S. Litt, Vive Developments addressed the
Committee in support of the staff recommendation.
In response to questions from the Committee, S. Litt noted the proposed
development includes approximately three hundred, three-bedroom units with
dens, twelve hundred units in total and one thousand bike spaces. In response to
further questions, S. Litt stated the incremental cost of moving the existing
dwellings with heritage interest would cost $650 000 for both houses in total. S.
Litt explained the process of relocating the existing dwellings, noting the interior
would not be preserved.
In response to Committee concerns regarding the displacement of existing
residents, S. Litt stated five apartments units and one house would be removed
as a result of the proposed development. S. Litt noted conversations with the
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tenants are in progress, and existing residents have been offered alternative
living arrangements in the adjacent building municipally addressed as 520
Lancaster Street at the same rate as their current rent.
J. Adams addressed the Committee in support of the proposed development.
T. Balork, A. Brillinger, and G. Harvey addressed the Committee in opposition to
the proposed development due to the displacement of the existing residents. .
Mayor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time.
D. Boisvert, R. Garibaldi, A. Knox, W. Marzinko, and C. Brown also attended in
opposition to the proposed development noting concerns with adverse impacts to
traffic in the area, potential increase in road -side parking, and pedestrian safety.
Councillor D. Chapman entered the meeting at this time.
Mayor B. Vrbanovic returned to the meeting at this time.
Councillor P. Singh left the meeting. Councillor B. loannidis assumed the chair at
this time.
M. Bowman addressed the Committee, noting traffic concerns surrounding the
proposed development, and requested the development further consider their
tree replacement plan, and additional bike storage.
Councillor P. Singh resumed Chair at this time.
A. Bast addressed the Committee in opposition to the application, noting the
property's heritage interest and value to the neighborhood as a whole.
In response to questions from the Committee, A. Pinnell provided additional
details regarding the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeal process, should the
applicant or member of the community be unsatisfied with the decision of the
Committee.
In response to Committee's transportation concerns, P. Sawicki, Region of
Waterloo Manager, Transportation Planning provided information regarding the
proposed traffic study that is to be conducted along Bridgeport Road, and the
possibility of implementing a multi -use trail on one side of Lancaster Street West.
A. Pinnell also confirmed the proposed development is located in close proximity
to two bus stops, connecting to Uptown Waterloo and the Light Rail Transit (LRT)
system.
A. Pinnell stated in response to further questions, a tree preservation plan has
been conducted, and noted an Environmental Impact Study was not a
requirement of this development application. G. Stevenson also noted in
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response to the Committee, that consultation with the Indigenous Community
was not completed for the proposed development. G. Stevenson addressed the
duty to consult the indigenous communities, noting staff are currently in the
process of developing criteria related to that engagement process that is not yet
available for use with the subject applications.
In response to safety concerns raised by the Committee, B. Cronkite noted there
are no significant reports of collisions in the area of the proposed development.
B. Cronkite further advised staff can consult with the Waterloo Region District
School Board to confirm whether additional measures, may be required, citing
crossing guards as an example to address pedestrian safety.
A motion was brought forward by Councillor S. Davey to defer the
recommendation outlined in Report DSD -2023-193 to the May 29, 2023 Council
meeting to allow an opportunity for staff to report back further regarding
transportation concerns, alternative community benefit funding possibilities in lieu
of preserving two existing dwellings with heritage interest (544 & 546 Lancaster
St W), and for further discussions with existing residents related to alternative
housing options.
On motion by Councillor S. Davey
It was resolved:
"That the following matter be deferred to the May 29, 2023 Council
meeting to allow an opportunity for staff to report back further regarding
transportation concerns, conversations with the developer regarding
alternative community benefit funding possibilities in lieu of preserving two
existing dwellings with heritage interest (544 & 546 Lancaster St W), and
provision of an update regarding developer and tenant discussion
surrounding accommodations for alternate housing resulting from the
proposed redevelopment:
That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/010/L/AP for 550
Lancaster Inc. & 528 Lancaster Street West Inc. be adopted, in the
form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Report DSD -
2023 -193 as Attachments 'Al' `A2' and `A3', and, accordingly,
forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for approval; and,
That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA21/015/L/AP for 550
Lancaster Inc. & 528 Lancaster Street West Inc. be approved in the
form shown in the Proposed By-law and Map No. 1, attached to Report
DSD -2023-193 as Attachments `B1' and `B2'; and,
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That the Urban Design Brief prepared by MHBC Planning, dated May
2022 (Revised March 2023), attached as Attachment `C' to report
DSD -2023-193 be endorsed, and that staff be directed to implement
the Urban Design Brief through future Site Plan Approval processes,
and at the discretion of the City's Director of Planning, significant
changes to the Urban Design Brief will be to the satisfaction of Council;
and further,
That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA22/023/B/AP for 550
Lancaster Inc. be approved in the form shown in the Proposed By-law
and Map No. 1, attached to Report DSD -2023-193 as Attachments
`G1' and `G2'."
Carried
5. Recess and Reconvene
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee recessed at 6:00 p.m. and
reconvened at 7:20 p.m., chaired by Councillor P. Singh, with all members
present except Councillor C. Michaud.
5.1 Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA22/011/N/AP, Draft Plan of
Condominium Application 30CDM-22208, 67 & 71 Nelson Avenue and
portion of the undeveloped Tagge Street right-of-way, 2415274 Ontario
Inc.,DSD-2023-198, DSD -2023-198
The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023-
198, dated April 19, 2023, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment
Application ZBA22/011/N/AP; and, approval of Condominium Application
30CDM-22208, for the properties municipally addressed as 67 & 71 Nelson
Avenue and a portion of the undeveloped Tagge Street right-of-way.
A. Pinnell presented the report, noting staff were recommending approval of the
subject applications. A. Pinnell stated since the report was published additional
discussions have been had between the developer and an adjacent neighbour
and as a result of those conservations, staff are requesting an amendment to the
Zoning By-law to include additional provisions to implement additional
commitments agreed to by the developer, including the Installation of an 8 foot
(2.4m) high wood board on board fence along the entire northern property line,
the implementation of a landscaped buffer strip along the fence line noted above
and decreasing the permitted building height for all lots abutting the existing
residential dwellings along the northern property line from 10.5 metres (3 storeys)
to 8 metres (2 storeys). A. Pinnell advised if the amendments are acceptable to
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the Committee, it is being further requested that an additional clause be added to
the recommendation this date noting ""That pursuant to Section 34(17) of the
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 13, as amended, further notice is not required to
be given in respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/11/N/AP."
P. Chauvin, MHBC Planning addressed the Committee in support of the staff
recommendation and the proposed amendments raised by Planning staff this
date, noting he was in attendance to respond to any questions the Committee
may have.
L. Musselman addressed Council in opposition to the application, expressing
concerns with the proposed application, the compatibility of the development with
the existing lots in the neighbourhood, traffic, safety for pedestrians and cyclists,
as there are no sidewalks and limited lighting in the neighbourhood. L.
Musselman expressed further objection to the City's Land Disposition of the
portion of Tagge Street that would help to support the development. L.
Musselman further advised the existing bridge over the Grand River was
constructed in 1983 is debatably at capacity with existing traffic loads and
additional development approvals will adversely impact the existing condition. L.
Musselman requested the application be refused.
Councillor S. Davey brought forward a motion to approve the recommendation as
outlined in Report DSD -2023-193, including the proposed amendment as
suggested by Planning Staff this date.
On motion by Councillor S. Davey
it was resolved:
"That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA22/011/N/AP for the
property municipally addressed 67 & 71 Nelson Avenue be approved, as
amended, in the form shown in the Proposed By-law and Map No. 1,
attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2023-193 as
Attachment A; and,
That the City of Kitchener, pursuant to Section 51(31) of the Planning Act
R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended, and By-law 2005-170 as amended by
By-law 2007-042, hereby grants draft approval to Condominium
Application 30CDM-22208 for 67 & 71 Nelson Avenue and a portion of the
undeveloped Tagge Street right-of-way, in the City of Kitchener, subject to
the conditions shown in Attachment B, of Report DSD -2023-193; and
further,
That pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.
13, as amended, further notice is not required to be given in respect to
Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA22/11/N/AP."
Carried, as amended
6. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Mariah Blake, Committee Administrator
Diann Saunderson, Manager, Council and Committee Services, Deputy Clerk
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