HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2025-04-14Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Committee Minutes
April 14,2025,6:00 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 (virtual)
Councillor B. loannidis (virtual)
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
C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development
G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals
N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research
B. Bennett, Manager, Business Development
T. Malone -Wright, Manager, Development Approvals
B. Bateman, Senior Planner
A. Clark, Senior Urban Designer
E. Pompa, Planner
D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
M. Blake, Committee Coordinator
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1. Commencement
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date
commencing at 6:46 p.m.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
2.1 Councillor A. Owodunni - Official Plan Amendment Application
OPA24/014/L/BB, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/030/L/BB,
288-292 Lawrence Avenue, S&S Stemco Inc. c/o Scott Stemerdink, DSD -
2025 -034
Councillor A. Owodunni declared a conflict with Item 6.1. Official Plan
Amendment Application OPA24/014/L/BB, Zoning By-law Amendment Application
ZBA24/030/L/BB, 288-292 Lawrence Avenue, S&S Stemco Inco c/o Scott
Stemerdink, DSD -2025-034, due to owning property in close proximity, and did
not participate in any voting or discussion related to the matter.
2.2 Councillor S. Davey - Growing Together East - Land Use and Zoning
Framework, DSD -2025-083
Councillor S. Davey declared a conflict with Item 6.2. Growing Together East -
Land Use and Zoning Framework, DSD -2025-083, due to family being employed
in the area, and did not participate in any voting or discussion related to the
matter.
3. Consent Items
3.1 2024-2026 Climate Change and Environment Committee Work Plan, DSD -
2025 -143
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -143, dated March 21, 2025, recommending approval of the 2024-2026
Climate Change and Environment Committee workplan.
On motion by Councillor S. Davey
it was resolved:
"That the Climate Change and Environment Committee Work Plan 2024 -
2026 as appended as Attachment `A' to Development Services
Department report, DSD -2025-143, be approved."
Carried
E
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy (WREDS), DSD -2025-134
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -134, dated April 1, 2025, recommending that the 2025 Waterloo Region
Economic Development Strategy be endorsed to guide collaboration among
municipal economic development partners.
B. Bennett, Manager, Business Development, provided an overview of the report.
C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development was also in attendance to
respond to questions of the Committee.
In response to questions from the Committee, B. Bennett noted the Waterloo
Region Economic Development Strategy was developed by an Area Municipal
Working Group comprised of staff from all seven area municipalities, the Region
of Waterloo and the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation.
On motion by Councillor M. Johnston
it was resolved:
"That the 2025 Waterloo Region Economic Development Strategy be
endorsed to guide collaboration among municipal economic development
partners, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -134."
Carried
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 OPA24/014/L/BB, Zoning By-law
Amendment Application ZBA24/030/L/BB, 288-292 Lawrence Avenue, S&S
Stemco Inc. c/o Scott Stemerdink, DSD -2025-034
3
Councillor A. Owodunni declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor A. Owodunni
declared a conflict with Item 6.1. Official Plan Amendment Application
OPA24/014/L/BB, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/030/L/BB, 288-
292 Lawrence Avenue, S&S Stemco Inco c/o Scott Stemerdink, DSD -2025-034,
due to owning property in close proximity, and did not participate in any voting or
discussion related to the matter. )
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -034, dated March 14, 2025, recommending adoption of Official Plan
Amendment Application OPA/24/014/L/BB and Zoning By-law Amendment
Application ZBA24/030/L/BB, for the property municipally addressed as 288-292
Lawrence Avenue.
B. Bateman, Senior Planner, provided an overview of the report. T. Malone -
Wright, Manager, Site Plan and G. Stevenson, Director, Development and
Housing Approvals were also in attendance to respond to questions from the
Committee.
D. Galbraith, UPS Consulting, was in attendance in support of the application.
In response to questions from the Committee, D. Galbraith noted there are
opportunities given the surrounding context and location to permit a wider range
of non-residential uses as part of a mixed-use building. D. Galbraith stated while
not proposed by the applicant at this time, consideration of non-residential uses
for the ground floor, such as a daycare facility, can be considered.
In response to further questions, D. Galbraith noted consideration of renewable
energy sources such as heat pumps is currently being explored.
On motion by Councillor M. Johnston
it was resolved:
"That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/014/L/BB for the
property municipally addressed as 288-292 Lawrence Avenue for S&S
Stemco Inc. c/o Scott Stemerdink requesting to change the Urban
Structure on Map 2 from `Industrial Employment Areas' to `Community
Areas' and Land Use on Map 3 from `General Industrial Employment' to
`Low Rise Residential', be approved, in the form shown in the Official Plan
Amendment attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -034 as Attachments 'Al', `A2',and `A3'; and further,"
That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/030/L/BB for or the
property municipally addressed as 288-292 Lawrence Avenue for S&S
Stemco Inc. c/o Scott Stemerdink be approved in the form shown in the
M
`Proposed By-law', and `Map No. 1', attached to Development Services
Department report, DSD -2024-034 as Attachments `B1' and `132'."
Carried
5.2 Growing Together East - Land Use and Zoning Framework, DSD -2025-083
Councillor S. Davey declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor S. Davey
declared a conflict with Item 6.2. Growing Together East - Land Use and Zoning
Framework, DSD -2025-083, due to family being employed in the area, and did
not participate in any voting or discussion related to the matter. )
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -083, dated March 10, 2025, recommending adoption of City -initiated
Official Plan Amendment Application OPA/24/014/L/BB; City -initiated Zoning By-
law Amendment Application ZBA24/020/COK/MR; and, City -initiated Zoning By-
law Amendment Application ZBA25/004/COK/MR.
A. Clark, Senior Planner, provided an overview of the report. E. Pompa, Planner,
N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research, and R. Bustamante, Director, Planning
and Housing Policy were also in attendance to respond to questions from the
Committee.
In response to questions from the Committee, A. Clark advised that the
boundaries of the Protected Major Transit Station Areas and the Growing
Together East Land Use and Zoning Framework were established through
Regional Official Plan Amendment 6, approved by the Region of Waterloo in
August 2022.
On motion by Councillor J. Deneault
it was resolved:
"That City -initiated Official Plan Amendment OPA24/010/COK/MR, for the
purpose of implementing a land use planning framework for 3 of the City's
Protected Major Transit Station Areas, including amendments to mapping
and text, be adopted, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment
attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-083 as
Attachment `A, and accordingly forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing for approval; and,
That City -initiated Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA24/020/COK/MR to
amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, for lands within 3 of the City's Protected
Major Transit Station Areas, be approved in the form shown in the
l
Proposed By-law attached to Development Services Department report,
DSD -2025-083 as Attachment `B'; and.
That City -initiated Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA25/004/COK/MR to
amend Zoning By-law 2019-051, for lands subject to Zoning By-law 85-1
and to be brought into Zoning By-law 2019-051, be approved in the form
shown in the Proposed By-law attached to Development Services
Department report, DSD -2025-083 as Attachment `C'; and further,
That City -initiated Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA24/020/COK/MR to
amend Zoning By-law 2019-051 shall have no force and effect until By-law
2024-065 (Growing Together PMTSAs) is in full force and effect."
6. Information Items
6.1 None.
7. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator
Carried
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