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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2024-04-08 Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes April 8, 2024, 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. Ioannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor S. Stretch Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services G. Stevenson, Director, Development & Housing Approvals T. Malone-Wright, Manager, Development Approvals D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk C. Dumart, Senior Planner M. Mills, Committee Coordinator _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. 1 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 3. Consent Items 3.1 None. 4. Discussion Items 4.1 None. 5. 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. 5.1 Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/001/V/CD and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/001/V/CD, 236-264 Victoria Street North, DSD-2024-132 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024- 132, dated March 11, 2024 recommending Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/001/V/CD, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/001/V/CD and the Urban Design Report, for the property municipally addressed as 236-264 Victoria Street North, be approved and adopted. C. Dumart provided an overview of the report and staff recommendation. G. Stevenson and T. Malone-Wright were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. A. Sinclair, MBHC Planning was in attendance in support of the staff recommendation. In response to questions from the Committee, A. Sinclair noted, based on pre-submission consultations with Staff, the applicant modified their initial development proposal to include additional amenity spaces and a reduction in the number of towers. A. Sinclair noted neighbourhood meetings were also conducted and concerns regarding traffic have been reviewed by the City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo. A. Sinclair noted concerns were also raised regarding the displacement of a rock climbing facility, Grand River Rocks, however the business still has an opportunity to utilize their space as the property will require a Record of Site Condition (ROC) and the applicant has not yet submitted a Site Plan Approval Application. In response to further questions from 2 the Committee, A. Sinclair noted affordable housing is not included within the proposed development at this time. Further, A. Sinclair noted the subject site is not within a Major Transit Station Area thus is not subject to Inclusionary Zoning requirements. Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. J. Smith and M. Cieplak, Grand River Rocks, addressed the Committee in opposition to the staff recommendation noting the subject application will displace their business a second time as a result of redevelopment. M. Cieplak noted they signed five plus five-year lease to relocate Grand River Rocks to the subject property and was not advised at the time that the owner was considering redevelopment. M. Cieplak suggested the applicant agree to delay construction of the proposed development for a minimum of five years to allow Grand River Rocks an opportunity to utilize the facility as significant financial investment has already been placed into renovations. In response to questions from the Committee, M. Cieplak noted Grand River Rocks is open to negotiations with the applicant regarding the potential for a climbing gym to be incorporated within the proposed development. T. Balork, C. Dietrich, E. Ponders, A. West and P. Kotwicz Herniczek provided comments in opposition to the staff recommendation, noting the proposed redevelopment will displace Grand River Rocks and their community of rock climbers. In response to questions from the Committee, E. Ponders noted the proposed development could provide greater community benefit if there is bike infrastructure, and recreational spaces that are open to the public, as well as a reduction in the number of parking spaces to allow for an expansion to the commercial area. M. Huang provided comments noting the vast construction of developments in the subject area have impacted their business, Mei King Restaurant, as there have been several road closures blocking customers' access to the restaurant. Further, M. Huang raised concerns with utilities being turned off at short notice during construction of nearby developments. M. Huang noted support for the proposed development however requested the developer provide reasonable notice where there are any impacts to their business during construction, and further, road closures that block access to the restaurant should be minimized. It was noted Staff would correspond with Mei King Restaurant regarding their concerns raised. 3 The Committee requested Staff provide data regarding the occupancy rate at the subject site and the number of businesses that will be displaced to facilitate the proposed development. In response to questions from the Committee, A. Sinclair noted the subject site is not "shovel ready" thus construction of the proposed development will not begin for a few years. Further, A. Sinclair noted the applicant is open to having discussions with Grand River Rocks to address their concerns. In response to further questions from the Committee, A. Sinclair noted the applicant may consider the inclusion of affordable housing units in the proposed development. A. Sinclair noted, prior to the Council meeting later this date, she would contact the applicant regarding the concerns and requests raised and provide an update at the Council meeting. Councillor B. Ioannidis brought forward a motion to refer consideration of this matter to the Council meeting later this date pending additional information from the applicant regarding affordable housing and concerns raised by Grand River Rocks. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis it was resolved: "That the following recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-132, be referred to the April 8, 2024 Council meeting to allow the applicant additional time to provide information regarding affordable housing and to address the concerns of Grand River Rocks: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/001/V/CD for the property municipally addressed as 236-264 Victoria Street North for Vicner Inc. be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2024- Region of Waterloo for approval; and, That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/001/V/CD for - rtment Report DSD-2024- That the Urban Design Report, dated December 2023, and attached to Development Services Department Report DSD-2024-132 as 4 Urban Design Report through the Site Plan Approval process." Carried 6. Information Items 6.1 None. 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m. Marilyn Mills Committee Coordinator 5