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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2023-06-05Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes June 5, 2023, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Councillor B. loannidis Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor M. Johnston Councillor A. Clancy Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor P. Singh Councillor D. Chapman Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services G. Stevenson, Interim Director of Planning 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., chaired by Councillor B. loannidis. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 1 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 OPA23/003/V/CD, and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/007/MV/CD, 97-101 Park Street and 186-194 Victoria Street South, 1928393 Ontario Inc., DSD -2023-236 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2023- 236, dated May 8, 2023, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA23/003/V/CD and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/007/MV/CD, for the properties municipally addressed as 97-101 Park Street and 186-194 Victoria Street South. The Committee was also in receipt of written submissions from S. Atos, A. Jardin, M. Nickels and P. Eglin. C. Dumart provided an overview of the staff report. G. Stevenson was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. D. Galbraith, IBI Group provided a brief presentation regarding the proposed development, and was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. D. Galbraith noted various measures have been implemented to increase sustainability throughout the development process, including but not limited to reducing parking, encouraging active transportation, and providing a large outdoor landscape for residents. In response to further questions, D. Galbraith stated discussion with tenants continue to occur, and alternative living arrangements at another location owned by the applicant have been offered to existing residents. Regarding questions raised about affordability, D. Galbraith noted the current proposal aims to offer attainable housing suitable for a broad range of potential applicants. D. Galbraith stated there is not currently a proposal for contribution to affordable housing at this time. M. Gerrits addressed the Committee in support of the proposed development. 2 S. Atos addressed the Committee in opposition to the staff recommendation due to potential traffic concerns and a lack of park space to support the increase in density. M. Nickels, Victoria Park Neighborhood Association, addressed the Committee in opposition to the subject application, and requested further consideration be given to increasing the number of affordable units to a minimum of 5% of the total units proposed, increasing the sidewalk setbacks to allow for additional green space and trees, and implementing additional sustainable measures such as Electrical Vehicle (EV) Charging stations and bike storage. P. Eglin addressed the Committee in opposition to the staff recommendation due to concerns with traffic, the height of the development in proximity to surrounding houses and corresponding shadow impacts on the surrounding area. A. Lobe addressed the Committee, noting the importance of the Committee representing the community and consulting the subject matter experts. Questions were raised by the Committee regarding parkland dedication. Staff noted the parkland dedication will be a combination of credit for publicly accessible private amenity space and cash in lieu of land. C. Dumart stated City Park Staff have identified they will review more details regarding onsite amenity space through the updated Urban Design Report. Staff also noted in response to further questions that the park central plan identified this corridor for high intensity mixed-use development, and stated building height increases in transition to the downtown core. The Committee raised concerns with the accessibility of Privately owned Park Space (POPS). Staff confirmed the proposed development will be a privately owned park space and will be publicly accessible. The Committee also noted concerns with the potential for increased traffic in the area as a result of the proposed development. Staff noted a traffic impact study was conducted and no major concerns were identified. Staff also indicated a holding provision was requested for an updated traffic impact study to include a sensitivity analysis to assess transit access, and whether Victoria Street would require a building access point. Councillor A. Owodunni left the meeting at this time. The Committee raised concerns with the lack of greenspace in the area, in comparison to the population density. Staff stated the proposed development includes a building set -back of 6.5 metres after the widening of the subject road to assist in providing more greenspace. 3 A. Owodunni returned to the meeting at this time. In response to questions from the Committee regarding the 90 -day appeal period, G. Stevenson confirmed this application was deemed complete on March 27, 2023, and noted Council's decision will be required prior to July 25, 2023. On motion by Councillor D. Schnider it was resolved: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/23/003/V/CD for 1928393 ONTARIO INC. requesting a land use designation change from `Mixed Use Corridor' to 'Mixed Use Corridor with Special Policy Area 2', for the property municipally addressed as 97-101 Park Street and 186-194 Victoria Street South, to permit a 42 storey mixed-use 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 -2023-236 as Appendix `A', and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and further, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/007/V/CD for 1928393 ONTARIO INC. be approved in the form shown in the `Proposed By-law', and `Map No. 1', attached to Report DSD -2023-236 as Appendix kB, .11 5. Information Items 5.1 None 6. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Mariah Blake Committee Administrator Carried M