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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSI Minutes - 2026-01-05T�:T,,,,IE�I' � Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Minutes January 5, 2026, 5:30 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 R 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 G. Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals T. Malone -Wright, Manager, Development Approvals A. Pinnell, Senior Planner E. Wittmann, Senior Planner D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Blake, Committee Coordinator 1. Commencement The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 6:08 p.m. 1 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 3. Consent Items 3.1 Demolition Control Application - DC25/034/S/AA - 26 Siebert Ave, DSD -2026- 009 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD -2026- 009, dated December 4, 2025, recommending approval of the request to demolish a Single Detached Dwelling with one Additional Dwelling Unit and replace it with a new Single Detached Dwelling. On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That Demolition Control Application DC25/034/S/AA for 26 Siebert Avenue requesting permission to demolish a Single Detached Dwelling with one Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU)(Attached)(Duplex) and replace it with a new Single Detached Dwelling, BE APPROVED, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD -2026-009." Carried 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 OPA24/011/C/AP, Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/023/C/AP, 808-836 Courtland Avenue East, 808 Courtland GP Inc., DSD -2025-002 E The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD - 2025 -002, dated December 18, 2025, recommending the adoption of Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/011/C/AP; adoption of Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/023/C/AP; and, endorsement of the Urban Design Brief, for the properties municipally addressed as 808-836 Courtland Avenue East. It was noted a written submission was received by T. Ratra. A. Pinnell, 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 from the Committee. K. Muir, Zehr Group of Companies, was in attendance in support of the application and staff recommendation, citing the site's proximity to transportation routes and suitability for development. In response to questions from the Committee, K. Muir advised that the development proposes an approximately equal distribution of one and two bedroom units, with about ten percent of units designated as three bedroom units. K. Muir noted these figures may change as the site plan details are finalized. In response to questions from the Committee, A. Pinnell addressed concerns regarding accessibility into and out of the development, particularly left-hand turns from Courtland Avenue during peak hours. A. Pinnell noted consultations with City Transportation, the Region, and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) have occurred related to the proposal. Further, it was noted that a revised traffic analysis was completed, and further details related to traffic and access will be finalized during the site plan approval stage. Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. G. Stevenson noted updated comments from the Region were received at a later date and requested that the matter be deferred to allow staff additional time to review these comments and obtain additional information from the Region. The Committee raised concerns regarding the potential location and safety of Waterloo Region District School Board bus stops near the proposed development. Councilor J. Deneault brought forward a motion to refer the recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD -2026-002, to the January 12, 2026, Council Meeting, to allow staff additional time to review late 3 comments received from the Region regarding water servicing capacity and to obtain additional information. On motion by Councillor J. Deneault it was resolved: "That the following recommendation be referred to the January 12, 2026 Council Meeting to allow staff the opportunity to obtain and consider additional information from the Region: That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA24/011/C/AP for 808-836 Courtland Avenue East, requesting to change the land use designation from `Commercial' and `General Industrial Employment' to `Strategic Growth Area C' and to exempt the proposal from subsections d) and j) of Policy 15.D.12.81, to facilitate a high-density, mixed-use development comprising 977 dwelling units, 532.1 square metres of non-residential use on the ground floor, with a maximum building height of 30 storeys, be approved, in the form shown in the Official Plan Amendment attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-002 as Attachment `A'; and That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA24/023/C/AP for 808-836 Courtland Avenue East be approved in the form shown in the Proposed By-law and Map No. 1, attached to Report DSD -2025-002 as Attachment `B'; and further That the Urban Design Brief prepared by Zehr Group, dated December 2024 (Revised), attached as Attachment `C' to report DSD -2025-002 be endorsed and that staff be directed to implement the Urban Design Brief through a future Site Plan Approval process, and at the discretion of the City's Director of Development & Housing Approvals, significant changes to the Urban Design Brief will be to the satisfaction of Council." Carried 5.2 Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/026/W/EW, 7 Wimbleton Crescent, DSD -2026-001 The Committee considered Development Services Department report, DSD - 2026 -001, dated December 19, 2025, recommending the adoption of Zoning By- law Amendment Application ZBA25/026/W/EW, for the property municipally addressed as 7 Wimbleton Crescent. It was noted a written submission was received by K Cornish. M 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 from the Committee. D. Galbraith, Up Consulting, was in attendance in support of the application and staff recommendation. In response to questions from the Committee, D. Galbraith confirmed that the application proposes rezoning the property from Residential Two (RES -2) to Residential Four (RES -4) to permit semi-detached dwellings, each with one attached Additional Dwelling Unit, for a total of four units. D. Galbraith further noted that, if the zoning application is approved, a consent application will be submitted to sever the property into two lots along the common wall, resulting in two units per lot. In response to concerns regarding compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, E. Wittmann noted that the area primarily consists of single - detached dwellings, with higher -density forms located at the nearby intersection. E. Wittmann noted that semi-detached dwellings are not common in the immediate area, however the proposed two-storey design is generally consistent in appearance with single -detached homes. E. Wittmann further stated that the `Low Rise Residential' designation permits semi-detached dwellings and that the lot size can accommodate this form of intensification without requiring site- specific zoning. In response to questions regarding tree removal, E. Wittman advised that one street tree will need to be removed to accommodate the proposed development. The City will require compensation for this removal, which will be allocated toward planting five replacement trees. K. Cornish and R. Cornish attended in opposition to the application, noting concerns regarding incompatibility with neighborhood character, increased stormwater runoff and drainage risks, removal of mature trees, impacts on privacy and parking, and potential traffic and safety issues. Councillor A. Owodunni left the meeting at this time. Councilor S. Davey brought forward a motion to refer the recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD -2026-001, to the January 12, 2026, Council Meeting, to allow staff additional time to review late comments received from the Region regarding water servicing capacity and to obtain additional information. R Councillor A. Owodunni entered the meeting at this time. On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That the following recommendation be referred to the January 12, 2026 Council Meeting to allow staff the opportunity to obtain and consider additional information from the Region:: That Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA25/026/W/EW for 7 Wimbleton Crescent for BDRP Inc. be APPROVED in form of the `Proposed By-law', and `Map No. 1' attached to Development Services Department report, DSD -2025-035 as Attachments `A1' and `A2'." Carried 6. Information Items 6.1 Kitchener's Great Places Awards 2025 Program Update, DSD -2026- 003 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mariah Blake Committee Coordinator