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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 2001-02-05PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 3:35 p.m. under Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. Vrbanovic, M. Galloway, G. Lorentz, J. Ziegler and J. Smola. Officials Present: Ms. C. Ladd and K. Bissell and Messrs. J. Gazzola, B. Stanley, G. Borovilos, J. Shivas, D. Mansell, J. Witmer and L.W. Neil. 1.BPS-00-175-84 MAPLE HILL DRIVE -ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION ZC 00/27/M/ZJ -SHIRLEY FILIATRAULT - WEST – VICTORIA PARK WARD The Committee was advised that the Department of Business and Planning Services was in receipt of an application submitted by Shirley Filiatrault to rezone lands known municipally as 84 Maple Hill Drive. The proposal would change the zoning so as to legalize the use of a small portion of the rear of the subject lands which is currently being used by the Westmount Golf and Country Club for golf course purposes. In this regard, the Committee considered report BPS-00- 175 dated January 9, 2001 and a proposed by-law dated December 22, 2000 attached to the report. The Committee was advised that notice that a public meeting would be held this date to consider this matter had previously been given. Ms. C. Ladd provided the Committee with a summary of the background relating to this matter which involves a conveyance and exchange of lands between two landowners, all of which is outlined in the staff report. No delegations were registered respecting this matter. In response to Mayor C. Zehr, Ms. C. Ladd advised that it was determined neighbourhood circulation was not required in respect to this matter. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - it was resolved: “That Zone Change Application ZC 00/27/M/ZJ (84 Maple Hill Drive – Shirley Filiatrault) requesting a change in zoning from Residential Two Zone (R-2) to Golf Course Zone (P-4) on Part of Lot 11, Registered Plan 877, be approved in the form shown in the “Proposed By-law” attached, dated December 22, 2000 without conditions. It is the opinion of this Committee that approval of this application is proper planning for the City and is in conformity with the City’s Municipal Plan.” 2.PRESENTATION- CANADA’S TECHNOLOGY TRIANGLE (CTT) - BUSINESS PLAN FOR 2001 Messrs. Jim Beingessner and Randy Ellis appeared as a delegation on behalf of Canada’s Technology Triangle (CTT) to provide a presentation of the organizations Year 2000 operations and a comment on their 2001 Business Plan which was circulated to the Committee. It was noted that community partners within the CTT were exhibiting good co-operation and reference was made to the decision of the City of Guelph to opt out of CTT. A presentation utilizing the overhead projection system was given describing their mandate, accomplishments in 2000 and future challenges. Comments and statistics were presented dealing with issues of unemployment, the labour force, industrial and commercial activity, office space, residential housing starts and vacancy rates/availability with respect to the foregoing sectors. The delegation summed up the Year 2000 as a very good one for the area but cautioned that there were difficulties on the economic horizon and strongly emphasized that now rather than later was the time to act to push hard to address these matters. The delegation then gave an overview of CTT’s 2001 Business Plan touching on various issues such as marketing, web site development, increasing staff complement, quicker client response PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2001- 13 -CITY OF KITCHENER 2.PRESENTATION- CANADA’S TECHNOLOGY TRIANGLE (CTT) - BUSINESS PLAN FOR 2001 (CONT’D) initiatives and sourcing more private sector partners to increase CTT funding. Councillor B. Vrbanovic commented that the City had hoped to see growth of partners within CTT and was advised that meetings were arranged with senior representatives of large corporations to further partnerships based on models with some flexibility. Councillor B. Vrbanovic also referred to the CTT corporate logo and Mayor C. Zehr advised that Kitchener has been consistently using the CTT logo on its publications. He also commented on the City’s three year funding commitment to CTT amounting to $80,000, $120,000 and $160,000 annually over three years but noted that funding was being maintained at $120,000 in 2001. 3.PRESENTATION-BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE - CITIES OF KITCHENER, WATERLOO AND CAMBRIDGE Ms. Kathi Smith, Manager of the Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) for the Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, appeared as a delegation to present an overview of BEC’s operations to date utilizing the overhead projection system. In this regard, their Strategic Business Plan ‘Executive Summary dated December 2000’ was circulated to the Committee. Ms. Smith remarked on the following areas of BEC’s operations: mission statement and vision, partners, board of advisors, organizational structure, staffing including organizational funding support, financial operations including revenues and expenses along with in-kind operating contributions, data on general inquiries/consultations, services and partner relationships, strategic alliances, seminars, quarterly newsletter and strategic objectives. Ms. Smith then listed goals of BEC in the areas of financial self sufficiency, clients/customers, operations and employees and immediate plans for 2001. Mayor C. Zehr inquired as to the status of renewal funding in support of specific staff working within BEC. Ms. Smith advised that she was following up in respect to staffing support issues and noted that the CIBC has chosen not to extend its support for a third year. In response to Councillor C. Weylie, Ms. Smith advised that it was her view Wilfrid Laurier University would become more involved with BEC. 4.ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:38 p.m. L. W. Neil Assistant City Clerk