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Planning and Strategic Initiatives
Committee Minutes
June 16, 2025, 6:30 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
Councillor P. Singh
Councillor B. loannidis
Councillor M. Johnston
Councillor D. Chapman
Councillor S. Stretch
Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services
J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
R. Bustamante, Director, Planning and Housing Policy
G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals
N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research
T. Malone -Wright, Manager, Development Approvals
K. Anderl, Project Manager (Policy)
K. VanDerGeld, Manager, Licensing
E. Wittmann, Senior Planner
M. Balch, Planner (Policy)
D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
M. Blake, Committee Coordinator
1
1. Commencement
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date
commencing at 7:00 p.m.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
2.1 Councillor P. Singh - Zoning By-law Amendment Application
ZBA25/001/K/EW, 924-944 King Street West, DSD -2025-035
Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 4.1. Zoning By-law
Amendment Application ZBA25/001/k/ew, 924-944 King Street West, DSD -2025-
035, on the agenda this date, as he owns property within the vicinity, and did not
participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.
2.2 Councillor P. Singh - Evictions due to Renovations, DSD -2025-248
Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to
Renovations, DSD -2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental
properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.
2.3 Councillor S. Stretch - Evictions due to Renovations, DSD -2025-248
Councillor S. Stretch declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to
Renovations, DSD -2025-248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental
properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.
3. Consent Items
3.1 2025 School Safety Update to Accommodate Growth, DSD -2025-222
The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2025-
222, dated June 6, 2025, recommending the establishment of street safety, and
the encouragement of active transportation at three new elementary schools
opening within the City of Kitchener in September 2025.
Moved by Councillor S. Davey
it was resolved:
"That the speed limit be set to 30 km/h within 150 metres of school
frontages on:
o Kinzie Avenue;
o Burgetz Avenue;
o Rosenberg Way;
o Thomas Slee Drive; and,
That the speed limit be set to 40 km/hr on River Road, from Old Chicopee
Drive to Kinzie Avenue; and,
That No Stopping be installed on:
o The west side of River Road East from approximately 20m north of
Kinzie Avenue to approximately 150m south of Old Chicopee Drive;
o The north side of Kinzie Avenue from River Road East to Burgetz
Avenue;
o The east and north sides of Burgetz Avenue from Kinzie Avenue to
Thaler Avenue;
o The north side of Rosenberg Way for approximately 112m, east of the
westerly parking area entrance;
o The north side of Thomas Slee Drive from approximately 40m east of
Monarch Woods Drive and approximately 35m west of Ian Ormston
Drive; and,
That No Stopping with Time Restrictions from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM be
installed on:
o The east side of River Road East from approximately 39m north of
Kinzie Avenue to approximately, 150m south of Old Chicopee Drive;
o The south side of Kinzie Avenue from River Road East to Burgetz
Avenue;
o The west and south sides of Burgetz Avenue from Kinzie Avenue to
Thaler Avenue;
o The south side of Rosenberg from approximately 30m east of
Forestwalk Street for approximately 208m opposite the school's
frontage;
o The north side of Rosenberg from approximately 30m east of
Forestwalk Street for approximately 35m along the school's frontage,
west of the westerly parking area entrance;
3
o The south side of Thomas Slee Drive from approximately 40m east of
Monarch Woods Drive and approximately 35m west of Ian Ormston
Drive;
o The west side of Ian Ormston Drive approximately 108m along the
west side, south of the proposed access;
o The east side of Ian Ormston Drive for approximately 22m near the
exit area; and,
That a School Bus Loading Zone be installed near the approximately 88m
of on -street school bus loading area on the north side of Rosenberg Way
south of the school building; and,
That Crossing Guards be installed at:
o Kinzie Avenue and River Road East;
o Kinzie Avenue and Thaler Road;
o River Road East and Fairway Road North; and,
That one of the two Crossing Guards be removed from the location of
Fairway Road North and Lackner Boulevard; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly, as outlined in
Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-222."
Carried
4. 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.
E
4.1 Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW, 924-944 King
Street West, DSD -2025-035
Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor P. Singh declared
a conflict with regards to item 4.1. Zoning By-law Amendment Application
ZBA25/001/k/ew, 924-944 King Street West, DSD -2025-035, on the agenda this
date, as he owns property within the vicinity, and did not participate in any voting
or discussion on the matter.)
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -035, dated June 5, 2025, recommending adoption of Zoning By-law
Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW, for the properties municipally
addressed as 924-944 King Street West. It was noted a written submission was
received by J. Desbarat regarding this matter.
E. Wittmann, Senior Planner provided an overview of the report. T. Malone -
Wright, Manager, Development Approvals and G. Stevenson, Director,
Development and Housing Approvals, were also in attendance to respond to
questions of the Committee.
K. Barisdale, GSP Group, was in attendance in support of the application.
In response to questions from the Committee, G. Stevenson confirmed that more
than six residential units exist on the site; therefore, the City's Rental
Replacement By-law applies, noting the landlord is responsible for negotiating
directly with tenants, and once agreed upon will be secured through a registered
agreement with the City of Kitchener.
In response to further questions from the Committee, K. Barisdale advised that
while no specific construction timelines have been confirmed, a project of this
scale is anticipated to take approximately 18 to 24 months. Coordination with the
City will occur regarding construction phasing and scheduling. K. Barisdale also
noted the development will include a mix of studio, one -bedroom, and two-
bedroom units, providing a range of unit sizes and bedroom counts.
Moved by Councillor S. Stretch
it was resolved:
"That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/001/K/EW for 924-
944 King Street West for 1000100206 Ontario Inc. and 1000187534
Ontario Inc. c/o Dez Capital Corporation be APPROVED in the form
shown in the `Proposed By-law', and `Map No. 1' attached to Development
Services Department report, DSD -2025-035, as Attachments `A1' and 'A2'
and further
l
That Council adopt the Urban Design Brief for 924-944 King Street West
attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-035,
prepared by GSP group, dated November 2024 as Appendix `I'."
Carried
5. Discussion Items
5.1 Evictions due to Renovations, DSD -2025-248
Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor P. Singh declared
a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD -2025-248,
on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did not
participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.)
Councillor S. Stretch declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor S. Stretch
declared a conflict with regards to item 5.1. Evictions due to Renovations, DSD -
2025 -248, on the agenda this date, due to ownership of rental properties, and did
not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter.)
Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time.
The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD -
2025 -248, dated June 4, 2025, recommending the referral of Path 2 initiatives to
the Housing for All update. It was noted written submissions were received by L.
Macredie, S. Savor, L. Crompton, P. Nickels, S. Freeman, A. Schuitema, and D.
Kwan.
K. Anderl, Project Manager (Policy) provided an overview of the report. M. Balch,
Planner (Policy) N. Goss, Manager, Policy and Research, R. Bustamante,
Director of Planning and Housing Policy, K. VanDerGeld, Manager, Licensing and
A. Fusco, Director, Legislative Services were also in attendance to respond to
questions from the Committee.
Councillor P. Singh returned to the meeting at this time.
R. Withell, Dr. H. Chow, J. Donkersgoed, B. Wallis, E. Wand, V. Flear and J.
Wells, L. Vos, Dr. R. Brown, K. White, M. Rothschild, M. Markham, H. Majaury, P.
Moses, and S. LaGrandeur were in attendance in opposition to the staff
recommendation, citing concerns such as insufficient tenant protections, the
need for a municipal eviction as a result of renovation by-law, long Landlord and
Tenant Board wait times, erosion of tenant rights, loss of affordable housing, and
the disproportionate impact of evictions on vulnerable populations.
n.
5.2 Recess and Reconvene
The Committee recessed at approximately 8:32 p.m., and reconvened at 8:47
p.m. Chaired by Councillor D. Chapman, with all Members present.
5.3 Evictions Due to Renovations, DSD -2025-248 (Con'd)
The Committee resumed consideration of Development Services Department
report, DSD -2025-248, dated June 4, 2025, recommending the referral of Path 2
initiatives to the Housing for All update.
M. Steinman, K. Vogelpohl, R. Gomes, R. Murdock, D. Kwan, B. Delisle, P.
Nickels, M. Lewis, L. Intini, D. Keen, E. Cooper, and L. Lindsay were also in
attendance in opposition to the staff recommendation, citing concerns such as
insufficient tenant protections, the need for a municipal eviction as a result of
renovation by-law, long Landlord and Tenant Board wait times, erosion of tenant
rights, loss of affordable housing, and the disproportionate impact of evictions on
vulnerable populations.
The Committee acknowledged the potential of an eviction as a result of
renovation by-law to offer reassurance to affected tenants; however, members
also expressed concerns regarding its effectiveness, enforceability, and the
significant staff resources that would be required for its implementation.
In response to questions from the Committee regarding the resources required to
implement an eviction as a result of renovation by-law, staff advised that a
minimum of three full-time equivalent (FTE) positions would likely be necessary
to support by-law development, application intake, and enforcement. Additional
resources would also be required for communications, including the development
of public education materials, and may include operational supports such as
vehicles, based on comparisons with similar programs in other municipalities.
Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward the staff recommendation, as outlined in
Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-248, including an
amendment directing staff to report back regarding Path 3, at the June 23, 2025
Council meeting with additional information on the potential timelines for
developing a proposed eviction as a result of renovation by-law, as well as the
associated financial impacts and staffing implications to support its
implementation.
A recorded vote was requested.
On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic
7
"That staff be directed to refer Path 2 initiatives to the Housing for All
update for consideration and implementation, as outlined in
Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-248; and,
That staff be directed to apply for relevant new Federal and Provincial
funding and support community partners to access, programs and
funding sources that support the creation and maintenance of
affordable rental housing; and further,
That advocacy to the Province of Ontario include the proclamation and
enactment of all regulations pertaining to bad faith evictions due to
renovations in Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act,
2023; and further,
That staff be directed to report back on Path 3 at the June 23, 2025
Council meeting to provide additional information on the potential
timelines for the development of a proposed eviction as a result of
renovation by-law, and when staff report back with the proposed by-
law, the report back should include the financial impacts and staffing
implications associated to implementation."
In Favour (6): Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor J. Deneault, Councillor C. Michaud,
Councillor A. Owodunni, Councillor M. Johnston, and Councillor D. Chapman
Contra (3): Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D. Schnider, and Councillor B.
loannidis
Conflict (2): Councillor P. Singh, and Councillor S. Stretch
Carried (6 to 3)
6. Information Items
6.1 Quarterly Planning Report (Q2), DSD -2025-260
7. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 10: 54 p.m.
Mariah Blake
Committee Coordinator