HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-22 EDAC Minutes
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Committee Minutes
November 22, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Electronic Meeting
Present:Councillor D. Schnider, Member
B. Whittaker, Member
G. Trusler, Member
J. Malfara, Member
M. Lam, Member
M. Krushack, Member
O. Kasperski, Member
S. Desikachar, Member
J. Curto, Member
M. Bingeman, Member
A. Akbar, Member
Staff:K. Remus, Committee Admnistrator
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1.Commencement
A virtual meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee was held at
11:00 a.m. on November 22, 2023. Chaired by Mark Bingeman. October meeting
minutes were approved unanimously by the committee.
2.Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
No pecuniary interests disclosed.
3.Delegations
None
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Build Now Program
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Philip Mills, Mike Maxwell, Jeff MacIntyre and Helen Jowett shared a
presentation on the Build Now: Waterloo Region initiative. Build Now: Waterloo
Region is a housing initiative that will provide 10,000 unites of missing middle-
and low-income housing across the Waterloo Region by 2030. A collaboration
between Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, local developers and a wide
rage of community partners, Build Now: Waterloo Region has the goal of
providing an opportunity for middle-income earners to enter the housing market,
build equity and allow Waterloo Region to attract and retain the skilled talent it
needs to continue to grow. More information can be found at buildnowwr.ca.
4.2 MTSA Zoning
Adam Clark presented the Growing Together project which is developing the
planning framework for Kitchener’s Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs).
Intensification around transit is a core fundamental principle of Ontario’s planning
framework. These areas have been identified as Major Transit Station Areas by
the Region of Waterloo. MTSAs have unique policies at both the provincial and
regional level. Growing Together will carry out those policies by updated the
City’s Official Plan and Zoning by-law. Growing Together will create a planning
framework for Kitchener’s MTSAs. This will enable and encourage responsible
growth for many years to come. More information can be found at
engagewr.ca/growingtogether.
4.3 Planning for 2024
The committee shared ideas of topics they would like to discuss in 2024.
Councillor Schnider also thanked the committee for their insight, advice and
questions throughout the last year.
Some ideas shared by the committee included:
Focusing on the economic health and prosperity of driving Kitchener into
the future
Comprehensive review of zoning bylaw (CRoZBy) update
Sustainability and how it is weaved into economic processes and
promoted across the Region
Revisiting topics for an update (ex. MTSA after going to Council, Charles
St. Terminal)
Downtown Kitchener
Affordable housing
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5.Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Katelyn Remus
Committee Administrator
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