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Home My WebLink AboutPSI Minutes - 2024-03-25Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes March 25, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers 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 S. Stretch Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Mills, Committee Coordinator 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 6:22 p.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 3. Consent Items 1 3.1 Limiting Distance Agreement with Owner of 630 Benninger Dr, and the Corporation of the City of Kitchener Pursuant to Section 9.10.14.2.(4) Division B of the Building Code, DSD -2024-112 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2024- 112, dated March 5, 2024 recommending that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a limiting distance agreement with the registered owner(s) of Block 132, Registered Plan 58M-642, known as 630 Benninger Dr, pursuant to Section 9.10.14.2.(4) of the Building Code. On motion by Councillor M. Johnston it was resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a limiting distance agreement with the registered owner(s) of Block 132, Registered Plan 58M-642, known as 630 Benninger Dr, pursuant to Section 9.10.14.2.(4) of the Building Code: said agreement is to permit 5 blocks of stacked townhouses with a limiting distance for the exposed building face being measured to a point beyond the property line on to the adjacent property, Block 134 Registered Plan 58M-642, known as 16 Nathalie St (City of Kitchener stormwater management pond), to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD - 2024 -112." Carried 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 OPA23/020/K/KA, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/035/K/KA, Enabling Four Units, DSD -2024- 066 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2024- 066, dated March 12, 2024 recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment OPA23/020/K/KA; and, adoption of City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment 2 Application ZBA23/035/K/KA, for the purpose of permitting up to 4 dwelling units on lots which permit a single detached dwelling. K. Anderl provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. R. Bustamante, J. Oosterveld, G. Khandelwal and A. Alzoor were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. K. Charlesworth provided comments in support of the recommendation noting as of right permissions for four unit dwellings contribute to efforts to help address the existing housing crisis. K. Charlesworth requested where possible the Committee also look for opportunities to enforce green development standards on all future four unit developments or renovations such as the use of electric heating and cooling systems rather than natural gas systems, mandating permeable hard surfaces and expanding public transit and active transportation infrastructure in newly developed areas. In response to questions from the Committee, K. Anderl noted the proposed lot width for four unit developments attempts to address livability, while managing items including but not limited to adequate parking and amenity space is maintained. K. Anderl noted the proposed By-law addresses the lot size of most lots across the City of Kitchener. G. Khandelwal further noted, if the proposed By- law is adopted, about 11,000 additional lots across the City would be permitted to enable four units. Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time. Councillor S. Davey assumed Chair. Councillor P. Singh re-entered the meeting and re -assumed Chair. In response to questions from the Committee regarding green development standards, J. Oosterveld noted these standards are enforced through the site plan control process which applies only to developments containing more than ten units. As such, green development standards cannot be enforced for the proposed initiative. J. Readman further noted the Province of Ontario is considering harmonizing the Building Code with the Federal Building Code. As the Federal Building Code is more progressive in regard to green development standards, Council could consider advocating to the Province adoption of this initiative. In response to questions from the Committee, K. Anderl noted it is anticipated the number of four unit dwellings constructed in the first year following the adoption of the proposed by-law will be lower than subsequent years. K. Anderl further noted staff intend to conduct industry consultations with builders regarding the challenges of implementing four unit dwellings. 3 Councillor S. Davey brought forward a motion to approve the recommendation as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD -2024-066 with an amendment that Staff provide data regarding the number of 4 -unit dwellings, including discrete Additional Dwelling Units constructed following approval of the "Proposed By-law" attached to DSD -2024-066, and report back to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee by the Fall of 2025 with additional recommendations or information.. Mayor B. Vrbanovic requested Councillor S. Davey's amendment be voted on separately on a recorded vote. Councillor S. Davey's amendment was voted on and was Carried unanimously, on a recorded vote. The motion as amended was then voted on and was Carried unanimously, on a recorded vote. It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would be considered at a Special Council meeting later this date. On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That City -Initiated Official Plan Amendment OPA23/020/K/KA, for the purpose of permitting up to 4 dwelling units on lots which permit a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or street -townhouse dwelling, be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2024-066 as Attachment 'A', and accordingly forwarded to the Region of Waterloo for approval; and, That City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/035/K/KA to amend Zoning By-law 85-1, be approved in the form shown in the "Proposed By-law" attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2024-066 as Attachment 'B1'; and, That City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA23/035/K/KA to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in the "Proposed By-law" attached to Development Services Department report DSD -2024-066 as Attachment 'B2'; and further, That Staff provide data regarding the number of 4 -unit dwellings, including discrete Additional Dwelling Units constructed following approval of the "Proposed By-law" attached to Development Services Department report 0 DSD -2024-066, and report back to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee by the Fall of 2025 with additional recommendations or information." Carried, unanimously on a recorded vote 5. Discussion Items 5.1 Kitchener Growth Management Annual Monitoring Report 2023, DSD -2024- 130 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2024- 130, dated March 8, 2024 recommending that the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy Annual Monitoring Report be used as the basis to fulfill Clause 22.1 of the Administrative Agreement between the City of Kitchener and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo regarding delegated approval authority. G. Khandelwal provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. R. Bustamante, N. Goss, and T. Donegani were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. On motion by Councillor C. Michaud it was resolved: "That the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy Annual Monitoring Report, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD - 2024 -130 be used as the basis to fulfill Clause 22.1 of the Administrative Agreement between the City of Kitchener and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo regarding delegated approval authority." 6. Information Items 6.1 Quarterly Planning Report, DSD -2024-121 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Marilyn Mills Committee Administrator Carried l