HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-16 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda
Infrastructure Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 16, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: Greg St Louis, Director Utilities, Gas & Water 519-741-2200 ext. 4538
PREPARED BY: Kate Daley, Senior Strategist, Carbon and Energy Planning, 519-741-
2200 ext. 4246
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: April 25, 2024
REPORT NO.: INS-2024-198
SUBJECT: Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Strategy Phase 2 Update
RECOMMENDATION:
For Discussion.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on Phase 2 of the Kitchener Utilities Clean
Energy Transition Strategy, which is underway. This phase consists of collaboratively
-facing energy businesses in light of the clean
energy transition and recommending an integrated business approach based on the
information gathered.
The key finding of this report is that staff have identified several types of potential business
activities from engagement contributions to date, which fit under the four main themes of:
\[1\] providing energy products and services; \[2\] planning for and reporting on our gas
distribution system; \[3\] providing the gaseous fuels of tomorrow, and \[4\] providing system-
scale energy services. More detailed information is required about each of the business
activities to be able to determine whether and how they might play a role in the integrated
approach that will be recommended in the strategy.
Community engagement was extensive during Phase 1 of the project in 2023, with
customers, community members, stakeholders, Kitchener committees, staff, and
councillors. This engagement, combined with stakeholder and staff engagement in
January of 2024, has provided a large list of energy business activities that could be
pursued.
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to
a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make
climate-positive choices.
BACKGROUND:
This project will develop a strategy to guide us as we evolve our energy business to continue
to be financially successful and provide valued services throughout the energy transition. The
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
project scope includes
housed in the Gas and Water Division of the Infrastructure Services Department.
Table 1: Project Phases
Project Timing
Phase
Phase 1 2023 building relationships and relational engagement with Council, staff,
understanding around values, goals, stakeholders, community members, and
and scope of the strategy customers
Phase 2 2024 determining the way forward detailed, collaborative option assessment and
together recommendation of an approach
Phase 3 2025 building consensus on the developing a phased long-term implementation
implementation plan to 2030 strategy to 2050 and a detailed first phase
implementation plan to 2030
In December of 2023, Council endorsed guiding principles for the project that were based on
extensive engagement with the public, stakeholders, City committees, staff, and councillors:
As we evolve our energy business to continue to be financially successful and provide
Guiding Principles Our intention Objectives
1: Make responsible, 1.1: Follow sound business practices
accountable, and position our community-1.2: Take action quickly to manage risk and
financially rewarding owned business for success maximize opportunity
business decisions 1.3: Assess value holistically to find our
best contribution
2: Serve customers 2.1: Pursue affordable, reliable, and
as an affordable and customers and community predictable energy services
reliable partner in the members as their trusted 2.2: Empower customers with choice and
energy transition partner in the energy with trustworthy, accessible information
2.3: Bring people along as things change
3: Contribute to a 3.1: Collaborate with partners
thriving community 3.2: Do our part to address climate change
3.3: Use clear metrics and align them with
community-scale goals
4. Plan for multiple 4.1: Rely on safe bet technologies and
energy futures with solutions that can adapt to prepare for long shot technologies
flexibility and focus and provide value in all 4.2: Prepare for a broad range of net-zero
carbon futures
4.3: Iterate, experiment, and learn
REPORT:
Phase 2 work to date and next steps:
Extensive engagement:Dedicated engagement workshopswere held with external
stakeholders and internal Kitchener Utilities management team members in January
2024 to identify and explore potential business activities that could be investigated.
From these, 237 submissions were received. Suggestions were added from the
extensive comments that were received last year during engagement with community
members, stakeholders, City committees, staff, and councillors, which resulted in 371
suggestions in total. After removing duplicates, 135 ideas were reviewed by staff.
Business activities: Staff have identified several types of business activities in the
submissions, which fit under the four main themes of: \[1\] providing energy products and
services; \[2\] planning for and reporting on our gas distribution system; \[3\] providing the
gaseous fuels of tomorrow, and \[4\] providing system-scale energy services.
Additional investigation: Each of the business activities that have been identified
requires some amount of additional investigation to determine whether it could form a
part of an integrated business approach within the strategy, which is expected at the
end of Phase 2.
Next steps: Staff are convening individual sub teams to advance the investigation of
each of these business activities, with support from consultants.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a
greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make climate-
positive choices.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
council / committee meeting.
CONSULT As noted above, during Phase 1 of the project in 2023, extensive consultation took
place with customers, community members, stakeholders, Kitchener committees, staff, and
councillors. This engagement, combined with stakeholder engagement in January of 2024, has
provided a large list of energy business activities that could be pursued.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
INS-2023-199 Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Update (Community and
Infrastructure Services Committee)
INS-2023-489 Phase 1 of Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Strategy
(Climate Change and Environment Advisory Committee)
INS-2023-508 Phase 1 report and guiding principles for the Kitchener Utilities Clean
Energy Transition Strategy (Community and Infrastructure Services Committee)
APPROVEDBY: Denise McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 16, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy & Research, 519-741-2200 ext. 7648
PREPARED BY: Carrie Musselman, Senior Env. Planner, 519-741-2200 ext. 7068
Matthew Rodrigues, Senior Planner, 519-741-2200 ext. 7433
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 3
DATE OF REPORT: May 2, 2024
REPORT NO.: DSD-2024-215
SUBJECT: Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project Technical Studies
RECOMMENDATION:
That report DSD-2024-215, regarding the Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project, be
received for information.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
City staff initiated the Hidden Valley Land Use Mater Plan process in 2018 to review the in-effect
land use and zoning within Hidden Valley.
Technical Studies are being completed to support the proposed city-initiated Official Plan
Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendments that will ultimately update land use in the Hidden
Valley area.
The outcomes of the Project will guide future development applications within Hidden Valley,
and will address important environmental, social, health, transportation, infrastructure, and
heritage impacts.
BACKGROUND:
Development in Hidden Valley has been contemplated in different forms since the 1980s and 1990s.
Since the existing Community Plans and zoning for Hidden Valley were brought into place, there
have been many changes to the Provincial, Regional, and City policy framework. Additionally, major
infrastructure and servicing initiatives have advanced namely the River Road Extension and Stage
2 ION Light Rail Transit (LRT).
City staff process in 2018 to
review the in-effect .
response to emerging issues and opportunities (Attachment A). The Master Plan in general,
proposed a variety of land use typologies, such as:
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
Low rise residential - estate Commercial (urban corridor)
Low rise residential -detached Business Park Employment (General
dwellings on large lots Service)
Medium rise residential buildings Major infrastructure and Utility
High Rise residential Natural Heritage Conservation; and
Mixed-use (urban corridor) Open Spaces
The Master Plan also included a series of implementation recommendations for further study and
policy changes.
REPORT:
The Hidden Valley area comprises approximately 183 hectares of land bound by the Grand River,
Highway 8, Wabanaki Drive and the rail corridor near Fairway Road. The area is characterized
primarily by rolling topography, including several agricultural fields, with large lot estate residential
dwellings towards the river. By far, one of the greatest and most noteworthy features of this area is
the significant natural environmental system.
The Project is the next step to prepare policies and land uses that would be incorporated into the
Official Plan, along with implementing zoning.
Technical Studies
A range of technical studies are being completed to inform the proposed policies and land uses, the
Master Plan will be used as guidance and direction during the completion of the studies.
The technical studies will verify:
The suitability of Master Plan land uses with respect to environmental, social, health,
transportation, water management, urban design, and heritage impacts.
Any technical standards required for implementation of the Plan including applying zoning
and processing future development applications.
An overview of considerations related to natural heritage conservation, climate adaptation
and mitigation, municipal infrastructure, and flooding based on the technical analysis and
The following information may be of particular interest to the committee:
Natural Heritage Conservation - An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is nearing completion and will
determine the limits of development, buffers from natural features, and guide the application of
appropriate land uses and zoning. The EIS builds on the significant amount of study that has been
completed in the area as part of the River Road Extension and Stage 2 LRT projects. As an outcome
of the EIS, large portions of the Study Area will have land use designations and zones which protect
these features over the long-term and promote their enhancement.
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation - Section 7 of the City of Kitchener Official Plan (2014) outlines
policies related to topics such as sustainable development, water conservation, energy conservation
and generation, and waste reduction and management. All future development within Hidden Valley
will be guided by the policies of this section. Additionally, the City is preparing a new Official Plan
and will be reviewing and updating its climate adaptation and mitigation policies city-wide.
Health Impact Study City of Kitchener Council requested to have a Health Impact Assessment to
be completed as one of seven concurrent technical studies for the Hidden Valley Secondary Plan.
Staff from City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services worked
in partnership to complete a Health Impact Assessment.
A Health Impact Assessment process provides a structured approach for planners and policymakers
to objectively evaluate the potential health-related outcomes of an activity or development before it
is built or implemented. Positive and negative health outcomes are identified as well as
recommendations to leverage positive health outcomes and prevent or mitigate negative health
outcomes.
Section 6 of the City of Kitchener Official Plan (2014) contain policies that ensure that land use
planning decisions promote and protect the health and well-being of people and achieve a complete
and healthy community.
Municipal Infrastructure - The Upper Hidden Valley Sanitary Pump Station and Forcemain
Environmental Assessment was completed in 2022 to identify the preferred alternative to service
these lands. The pumping station is required to provide sanitary servicing and associated forcemain
route for the undeveloped portions of the Study Area. The preferred design concept includes
constructing a pumping station in the north portion of the Study Area, with a forcemain discharging
to the trunk sewer at Wabanaki Rd. and Hidden Valley Rd.
Flood Risk Reduction - The Hidden Valley Flood Risk Reduction Environmental Assessment was
completed in 2024 to identify ways to reduce existing flood risks and support future development in
the Study Area. There are several flood vulnerable areas and erosion vulnerable areas in the
downstream portion of the Hidden Valley Creek subwatershed close to Hidden Valley Road. The
area downstream has experienced past flood and erosion impacts. These are related to specific
rainfall or runoff events and the release of natural debris (examples: beaver dams or natural debris
jams). The preferred design concept includes replacing the culvert at Hidden Valley Road to increase
the conveyance capacity, lower the water surface elevation upstream and reduce the frequency of
floods overtopping the road.
Conclusion
The Technical Studies completed up to now, support the proposed city-initiated Official Plan
Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment, and will implement the land use direction established
by the Council approved 2019 Master Plan.
With the consideration of the proposed amendments, the existing Hidden Valley Industrial and
Residential Community Plans will be repealed.
PREVIOUS REPORTS:
DSD-19-133 Neighbourhood Planning Review: Hidden Valley Land Use Master Plan
DSD-2022-258 Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Upper Hidden Valley Pumping
Station and Forcemain
DSD-2024-119 Hidden Valley Flood Risk Reduction Environmental Assessment
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A Hidden Valley Land Use Master Plan
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 16, 2024
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy and Research, 519-741-2200 ext. 7648
PREPARED BY: Hilary Irving, Sustainability Advisor, 519-741-2200 ext. 7137
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward(s) All
DATE OF REPORT: April 29, 2024
REPORT NO.: DSD-2024-216
SUBJECT: CorCAP 2.0 Part 2 TransformWR, continued discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
For discussion
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to continue the dialogue from the April 2024 Climate
Change and Environment Committee on CorCAP 2.0 Part 2, which shifts focus from
corporate emissions to community-based emissions.
Staff intend to have a structured discussion regarding TransformWR, identifying areas
of focus to ensure staff resources are deployed where they can make the greatest
impact.
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path
to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment
while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to
make climate-positive choices.
BACKGROUND:
rk. Part 1 (Pivot: Net-
Zero), has focused on Corporate GHG Emissions and Part 2 will shift focus to Community
GHG Emissions, while Part 3 will turn to Climate Adaptation.
Community emissions will/have been addressed through the Kitchener Utilities Clean
Energy Transition Strategy, as well as TransformWR. TransformWR was completed through
the ClimateActionWR collaborative, made up of local municipalities and townships, REEP
Green Solutions and Sustainable Waterloo Region. The document lays out 78 actions
across 6 transformative changes to guide the Region of Waterloo towards our community
GHG reduction goals of 50% by 2030 (upgraded from initial commitment of 30% by 2030)
and 80% by 2050. Of these 78 Actions the City of Kitchener was appointed to Lead (23),
Collaborate (5), Participate (13) or Support (11) 52 of them. Council endorsed TransformWR
th
on June 14 2021.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
REPORT:
The table below outlines the TransformWR actions that the City of Kitchener was assigned
as a Lead, Collaborator, Participant or Supporter. In support of implementing TransformWR,
staff wish to continue a guided discussion with the Climate Change and Environment
Committee on some specific actions, gathering input from the Committee based on what
has been done, what can be done, and any challenges that may be faced.
Please note work has already begun on many of these actions. Details can be found on the
TransformWR Progress Dashboard.
Table 1 - City of Kitchener TransformWR Actions
Transformative Change Action Commitment
Action 1.1.1: Plan a network of major active
transportation corridors across cities and
townships, that will provide high-volume priority
Lead
travel for walking, cycling, and rolling to key
destinations across the region, as well as access
to public transit.
Action 1.1.2: Plan for and build neighbourhood
Lead
connections to the active transportation network.
Action 1.1.3: Implement further policies across
the region to prioritize active transportation in Lead
road and trail design and reconstruction.
1. By 2050, most trips
Action 1.1.4: Identify and implement policy and
Lead
are taken using active
program opportunities to de-incentivize driving.
transportation, with the
support of a robust public
Action 1.1.5: Design and maintain active
transit system.
transportation infrastructure to ensure year-round
Lead
access, safety, and comfort for people of all
abilities.
Action 1.2.2: Ensure priority access for walking,
cycling, and rolling to transit stations and bus Collaboration
stops.
Action 1.2.4: Connect people to intercity,
multimodal, and emerging transportation Lead
solutions.
Action 1.3.1: Launch micro mobility systems
(bike, e-bike and e-scooter-sharing systems) in Lead
Waterloo Region communities.
Transformative ChangeActionCommitment
Action 1.3.2: Expand and innovate on existing
programming (e.g. Travelwise) that supports
employers and employees in making active Participant
transportation and transit the easy and preferred
choice for commuting and business travel.
Action 1.3.3: Create community active
transportation hubs to provide customized Collaboration
support, education, training, and resources.
Action 1.3.4: Develop active transportation and
transit programs that target equity-deserving Lead
communities.
Action 1.3.5: Post-pandemic continued adoption
of work from home and flexible work schedules
Participant
for reducing trips or shifting trips to off-peak
times.
Action 1.4.1 Increase the efficiency of
Support
commercial goods movement.
where people can meet their daily needs by Lead
walking, cycling, or rolling.
Action 1.5.2: Implement design standards for
new developments to build for walking, cycling, Lead
and rolling to be the primary mode of travel.
Action 1.5.3: Site key community services, health
facilities, subsidized housing, etc., in central
areas where they can be easily accessed using Participant
the active transportation and public transit
systems.
Action 2.1.1: Complete a region-wide electric
Collaboration
vehicle strategy.
2. By 2050, remaining
Action 2.1.2: Plan and begin to implement a
personal and commercial
transition to zero emission vehicles for municipal
Lead
vehicles are zero
fleets, working towards a goal of at least half of
emissions vehicles.
municipal vehicles being zero emissions by 2030.
Action 2.1.3: Plan and begin to implement the
transition of commercial vehicle fleets to zero Participant
emissions vehicles.
Transformative ChangeActionCommitment
Action 2.1.5: Develop and implement an electric
vehicle public outreach and communication Support
strategy for personal vehicles.
Action 2.2.1: Provide more public electric vehicle
charging stations in public spaces, commercial Participant
spaces and other places visited by the public.
Action 2.2.2: Require all new residential parking
spaces, and a portion of new non-residential Lead
parking spaces, to be constructed as "EV-ready".
Action 2.2.3: Investigate and implement local
opportunities to address barriers to adding
Support
electric vehicle charging infrastructure in existing
multi-residential buildings and homes.
Action 2.2.4: Investigate hydrogen vehicle trends
Support
and refuelling infrastructure options.
Action 3.1.10: Create a one-window service to
support energy-related upgrades for homes and Collaboration*
businesses.
Action 3.1.2: Implement a public literacy
campaign to explain and promote the adoption of
Participant
electric heat pumps for space and water heating
in residential and commercial buildings.
Action 3.1.3 Switch home and business heating
Participant
and water heating off of fossil fuels.
3. By 2050, businesses
Action 3.1.4: Investigate and plan for full
and homes no longer
replacement of natural gas with other, non-fossil
Lead
use fossil fuels for space
fuel sources, such as a combination of renewable
heating and cooling, and
natural gas and hydrogen.
hot water heating.
Action 3.1.5: Identify and implement necessary
supports to transition anyone still using fuel oil, or
Support
propane for heating to other fuel sources by
2025.
Action 3.1.6: Install renewable energy generation
Participant
in business and residential buildings.
Action 3.1.7: Support households on lower
income with building envelope improvements,
Support*
electrifying space and water heating, and
renewable energy generation.
Action 3.1.8: Identify opportunities to incentivize
Support
landlords to perform energy efficiency upgrades.
Transformative ChangeActionCommitment
Action 3.1.9: Offer innovative loans for energy-
related residential and commercial building Lead
upgrades.
Action 3.2.3: Develop region-wide building
standards to encourage and support zero-carbon Lead
development of all new buildings in the region.
Action 3.2.4: Incorporate energy planning
considerations into the development application Lead
review process.
Action 3.2.6: Build capacity and expertise in the
local design and construction sector to build net-Support
zero carbon buildings.
Action 3.2.7: Show leadership by building net-
Lead
zero carbon in the public sector.
Action 4.1.3: Support the use of
compost/organics collection programs for all Participant
commercial buildings.
4. By 2050, Waterloo
Region uses less,
Action 4.2.1: Implement community waste
Lead
wastes less, and no
reduction and circular economy campaigns.
longer disposes of
organic matter in
Action 4.2.4: Reduce unnecessary building
landfills.
Lead
demolitions and construction waste.
Action 5.1.1: Continue to develop and enforce
robust land use planning protections for prime Lead
5. By 2050, Waterloo
agricultural land.
Region has a thriving
local food system built on
Action 5.3.1: Support the reduction of GHG
local farming and food
emissions from livestock, and develop methane Support
production and
capture and energy production from manure.
processing that feeds
Action 5.4.2: Provide a variety of low GHG food
much of our community.
options plant-based dining options in local Participant
restaurants, grocery stores, and catered events.
Action 6.1.1: Establish metrics to measure
progress on increasing equity through GHG Lead
reduction initiatives in our community.
Action 6.1.2: Incorporate education on
6. By 2050, Waterloo
sustainability justice and equity into climate Participant
Region has leveraged
action planning.
reducing GHG emissions
to increase equity,
Action 6.1.3: Fund a climate justice committee
prosperity and resiliency
led by community members from equity-seeking Lead
for all.
groups.
Action 6.1.4: Provide specialized
resources/support to organizations on prioritizing Support
equity while planning their transition.
Transformative ChangeActionCommitment
Action 6.1.6: Build reciprocal relationships
between Indigenous groups and local
municipalities and climate action organizations to
Participant
ensure GHG reduction work is done in equitable
ways that respect the land and traditions of
Indigenous groups.
Action 6.1.8: Apply an equity lens to all the
Participant
actions in this transformation.
Action 6.3.2: Implement a public literacy
campaign for homeowners and property owners Support
on renewable energy systems.
Action 6.3.3: Implement a literacy and awareness
campaign for commercial scale renewable Collaboration
energy generation.
Action 6.3.4: Evaluate how to identify and protect
optimal areas for industrial-scale renewable Participant
energy generation.
Action 6.5.1: Bring community organizations and
local government together to collectively identify
Lead
and communicate advocacy priorities to multiple
levels of government.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to
a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make
climate-positive choices.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no financial implications at this time.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
th
June 14 2021 DSD-2021-94 Community Climate Action Plan TransformWR Strategy
April 18, 2024 DSD-2024-158 Part 2 Transform WR