Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2025-01-27Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes January 27, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid 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 (virtually) 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 R. Bustamante, Director, Planning and Housing Policy G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research E. Schneider, Senior Planner M. Rodrigues, Senior Planner C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner B. Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner M. Mills, Committee Coordinator M. Blake, Committee Coordinator 1 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 6:00 p.m. 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. In accordance with the Ontario Planning Act, only the applicant or owner of land affected by the planning applications, a specified person, or a public body, and or the Minister may appeal most decisions. If you do not make a verbal submission to the Committee or Council, or make a written submission prior to City Council making a decision on the proposal, you may not be entitled to appeal the decision of the City of Kitchener to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), and may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the OLT. To understand your right of appeal, if any, or for further clarification regarding appeals, please see the Ontario Land Tribunal website. 5.1 Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/005/K/CM, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/008/K/CM, Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project, DSD -2024-292 The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD - 2024 -292, dated January 6, 2025, recommending adoption of City Initiated Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/005/K/CM and City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/008/K/CM; and recommending that the Hidden Valley Residential Community Plan and the Hidden Valley Industrial Community Secondary Plan be repealed in their entirety. Councillor A. Owodunni entered the meeting at this time. R. Bustamante, Director of Planning and Housing Policy, and C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner, provided an overview of the report. B. Saunders, LGL Limited, N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research, and M. Rodrigues, Senior 2 Planner, and B. Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. P. Benninger, Coldwell Banker, N. Miller and D. Aston, MHBC Planning were in attendance in support of the application, noting concerns and suggesting modifications regarding the staff recommendation, specifically related to the proposed Zoning and Official Plan designations for the portion of Hidden Valley identified in Map 3 and Map 6 as seen in Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-192, due to: inaccuracies with the proposed overlay mapping in zoning, additional environmental constraints identified in Map 6, and inaccurate reflection of the agreement for delineation of features with the City and LGL Limited based on the site walk conducted. Questions were raised by the Committee regarding potential timelines for a deferral of the Planning Applications, to allow for an opportunity to conduct a site visit and to further discuss the proposed regulations for the areas raised by the delegations. N. Goss noted deferring the decisions to Spring 2025 would allow improved weather conditions for the proposed site visit, and a more visible tree canopy. It was noted that a decision on this matter could be deferred to the May 26, 2025, Council Meeting. In response to further questions, Staff advised that pending the outcome of the discussions and site visit, staff would be prepared to bring this matter back in advance of May 26, 2025, if opportunity permits. Councillor J. Deneault brought forward a motion to defer the recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-192 to the May 26, 2025, Council Meeting, or sooner, to allow staff the opportunity to conduct a site visit of the subject properties and have further conversations with the applicant, and Ward Councillor related to land use, transportation, environment and source water protection concerns. On motion by Councillor J. Deneault it was resolved: "That the following recommendation be referred to the May 26, 2025, Council Meeting, or sooner to allow staff the opportunity to conduct a site visit of the subject properties and have further conversations with the applicant, and Ward Councillor related to land use, transportation, environment and source water protection concerns: That City Initiated Official Plan Amendment OPA24/005/K/CM, for the purpose of implementing recommendations contained within the Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project, including amendments to mapping and text amendments, be approved, in the form shown in the 3 Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2024-292 as Attachment `A'; and, That City Initiated Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/008/K/CM to amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form shown in the "Proposed By-law" attached to Report DSD -2024-292 as Attachment `B'; and further, That the Hidden Valley Residential Community Plan (as approved June 14, 1990) and Hidden Valley Industrial Community Secondary Plan (as approved October 19, 1981) be repealed in their entirety." Carried 5.2 Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/012/K/ES and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/024/K/ES, 4611 King Street East, Imperial Oil Limited c/o UM Developments, DSD -2025-025 The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD - 2025 -025, dated January 10, 2025, recommending adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/012/K/ES and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/024/K/ES, for the property municipally addressed as 4611 King Street East. It was noted a written submission was received from V. Martin. E. Schneider provided an overview of the report. G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals, was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time. Councillor D. Chapman assumed Chair. B. Flewwelling, GSP Group, was in attendance in support of the staff recommendation, noting while the application initially requested building heights of 25 and 30 stories, following discussions with staff, density has been shifted away from the rear of the site (along King Street East) and the tower heights have been revised to 22 and 33 stories as a result. Councillor P. Singh returned to the meeting at this time, and resumed Chair. In response to questions from the Committee, B. Flewwelling noted 10 affordable units can be included in the proposed development at this time. S. Raic, Wendi Johnston, Pinegrove Community Association, J. Wisenberg, R. Galbraith and A. Heywood were in attendance in opposition to the application, noting concerns with the privacy of existing low-rise properties, lack of nearby M commercial and community amenities, increased traffic, and safety of pedestrians and cyclists. In response to questions from the Committee, E. Schneider noted while this community does not possess significant parks and trails nearby, there is opportunity for outdoor recreation and amenity areas are proposed at the rear of the site as well as on top of the podium/building base. In response to questions from the Committee regarding traffic concerns, E. Schneider noted staff recognize this section of the King Street East corridor contains high traffic volumes, and confirmed that the applicant has provided a revised Transportation Impact Study (TIS) that has been accepted by the Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener Transportation Staff. E. Schneider noted the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) are currently reviewing the updated Transportation Impact Study provided. Further, E. Schneider indicated the MTO's plans to construct a Highway 8 flyover to Highway 401 would have the potential to significantly decrease traffic along this part of the King Street East corridor. In response to questions regarding the ability of regional staff to attend the Council Meeting, E. Schneider noted staff will endeavor to have further conversations with regional staff, and can note the Committee's request for their attendance at the February 10, 2024 Council Meeting. Councillor J. Deneault brought forward a motion to refer the staff recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD - 2024 -292, to the February 10, 2025 Council Meeting to allow staff the opportunity to have further conversations with the applicant, regional staff and the Ward Councillor regarding the building height, transportation impacts, site access, community amenities, and parking concerns. On motion by Councillor J. Deneault it was resolved: "That the following recommendation be referred to the February 10, Council Meeting to allow staff the opportunity to have further conversations with the applicant, regional staff and the Ward Councillor regarding the building height, transportation impacts, site access, community amenities, and parking concerns: "That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/012/K/ES for Imperial Oil Limited c/o LJM Developments, for the property municipally addressed as 4611 King Street East, requesting to add Policy 15.D.12.80 to Section 15.D.12 and to add Specific Policy Area 80 to Map 5 — Specific Policy Areas in the Official Plan to facilitate a mixed use development having 726 G� residential dwelling units and 1,892 square metres of commercial space within two towers atop a shared podium with building heights of 22 and 33 storeys and a Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 7.9, be approved, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-025 as Attachments 'Al' and 'A2', and further; That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/024/K/ES for Imperial Oil Limited c/o LJM Developments be approved in the form shown in the `Proposed By-law', and `Map No. 1', attached to Report DSD -2024-025 as Attachments `131' and `132'." Carried 6. Information Items 6.1 Integrity Commissioner Annual Report, July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, COR -2025-018 6.2 Strategic Plan Update - Winter 2025 Implementation, CAO -2025-033 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at approximately 9:10 p.m. Mariah Blake Committee Coordinator n.