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Home My WebLink AboutPSI Minutes - 2023-05-15Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes May 15, 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 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 of Planning T. Malone -Wright, Interim Manager, Development Review B. Bateman, Senior Planner C. Dumart, Senior Planner D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Blake, Committee Administrator 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 7:00 p.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 1 2.1 Mayor B. Vrbanovic - Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/0071W/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA/21/010/W/BB, 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East, M.K.G. Holding Corporation, DSD -2023-200 Mayor B. Vrbanovic declared a conflict with regards to the Official Plan Amendment Application OPA21/007/W/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA/21/010/W/BB, 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East, M.K.G. Holding Corporation, DSD -2023-200, due to owning property within the vicinity of the subject property and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter. 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 Application OPA21/007/W/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA/21/010/W/BB, 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East, M.K.G. Holding Corporation, DSD -2023-200 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023- 200, dated April 17, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/21/007/W/BB; Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA21/010/W/BB; and, endorsement and implementation of the Urban Design Brief through future Site Plan Approval processes, for the properties municipally addressed as 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East. B. Bateman, Senior Planner provided an overview of the Staff report. T. Malone - Wright, Interim Manager of Development Review and G. Stevenson, Interim Director of Planning were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 2 K. Barisdale, GSP Group addressed the Committee in support of the staff recommendation. Z. Zehr, Zehr Group was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. K. Barisdale addressed the primary concerns raised through the public consultation process, including but not limited to: the building height and massing, traffic volumes along Weber Street, parking, lack of park space and population density. K. Barisdale stated these concerns have been addressed by decreasing the building's number of stories, creating an additional parking lot entrance, and providing significant recreation development through private balconies and terraces. Questions were raised regarding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, Z. Zehr stated 63 EV stations were proposed to be provided. Councillor A. Owodunni left the meeting at this time. In response to questions related traffic and access to the property, K. Barisdale noted a detailed traffic review was conducted by the Region of Waterloo and the Ministry of Transportation, displaying no major traffic concerns. K. Barisdale stated an additional parking lot entrance on Franklin Street has been proposed as well, to alleviate any traffic volume concerns. K. Barisdale commented the building was designed with a four -storey parking podium as a means of alleviating concerns from potential noise from the nearby expressway. In response to questions from the Committee regarding the availability of affordable housing units, Z. Zehr noted in place of implementing affordable housing units in this development, Zehr Group will be donating $350,000. towards an affordable housing organization. On motion by Councillor D. Schnider it was resolved: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/21/007/W/BB for M.K.G. Holding Corporation, for the property municipally addressed as 1157 and 1175 Weber Street East, requesting a land use designation change from 'Commercial' to `Mixed Use' to permit a mixed-use development on the lands specified and illustrated on Schedule 'A', be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment 'A', and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA21/010/W/BB for M.K.G. Holding Corporation be approved in the form shown in the `Proposed By- law', and `Map No. 1', as Attachment `B' as attached; and further, 3 That the Urban Design Brief prepared by GSP Group Inc., dated March 2023, and attached as Attachment `C' be endorsed, and staff be directed to implement the Urban Design Brief through future Site Plan Approval processes." Carried 5.2 Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/002/K/CD and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/005/K/CD, 1770 King Street East, 815 and 825 Weber Street East, King Weber Kitchener Holdings Inc., DSD -2023-163 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023- 163, dated April 17, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/23/002/K/CD; and, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/005/K/CD, for the properties municipally addressed as 1770 King Street East, 815 and 825 Weber Street East. C. Dumart, Senior Planner provided an overview of the Staff report. T. Malone - Wright, Interim Manager of Development Review and G. Stevenson, Interim Director of Planning were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. N. Van Oyen, MHBC Planning addressed the Committee in support of the staff recommendation. S. Litt, Vive Developments was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. In response to questions from the Committee, S. Litt stated a mixed-use development was not the requirement of the zoning by-law, however the ground floor would be convertible into retail units should there be demand. Further, Staff noted a site-specific provision and waiving further notice with respect to Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA23/005/K/CD, would be required to implement commercial and residential use on the same floor. The Committee noted their support for the implementation of commercial use on the ground floor due to the location of the proposed development and high student population in the area. C. Dumart stated Staff can continue discussions with the developer regarding the details surrounding mixed-use zoning on the ground floor. In response to questions from the Committee, S. Litt confirmed conversations with existing commercial lease tenants occur prior to removal and construction. M In response to further questions regarding affordable housing, S. Litt stated the proposed development is intended to be mid -market rental value. S. Litt also stated in response to questions, three-bedroom units were not currently being considered for this development. A Motion was brought forward by Mayor B. Vrbanovic to approve the subject applications as outlined in Report DSD -2023-163. Councillor C. Michaud brought forward an amendment to include the approval of a special regulation to allow for commercial units on the ground floor of the proposed development, specifically a special regulation to require a minimum ground floor interior ceiling height of 4.5 metres, to allow dwelling units on the ground floor with non-residential units, to require a minimum non-residential floor area on the ground floor, and for Staff to work with the applicant to determine the minimum non-residential ground floor area, including an additional clause "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 ZBA23/005/K/CD." Councillor C. Michaud's amendment was then voted on and was Carried. On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic it was resolved: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/23/002/K/CD for King Weber Kitchener Holdings Inc., for the property municipally addressed 1770 King Street East and 815/825 Weber Street East, requesting a land use designation change from "Mixed Use Corridor with Special Policy Area 1' to `Mixed Use Corridor with Special Policy Area 11' to permit a 27 storey multiple dwelling development on the lands specified and illustrated on Schedule `A', be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Report DSD -2023-163 as Appendix 'A', and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/005/K/CD for King Weber Kitchener Holdings Inc. be approved in the form shown in the 'Proposed By-law', and 'Map No. 1', attached to Report DSD -2023-163 as Appendix 'B'; and further, That the Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/005/K/CD for King Weber Kitchener Holdings Inc. be approved including a special regulation to require commercial space on the ground floor of the proposed development, to require a minimum ground floor interior ceiling height of G� 4.5 metres, to allow dwelling units on the ground floor with non-residential units, to require a minimum non-residential floor area on the ground floor, and for Staff to work with the applicant to determine the minimum non- residential ground floor area; 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 ZBA23/005/K/CD." 6. Information Items 6.1 None 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Mariah Blake Committee Administrator Carried 9