Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlng & Econ Dev - 2001-03-05PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 5~ 2001 CITY OF KITCHENER The Planning and Economic Development Committee met this date commencing at 3:24 p.m. under Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Smola, G. Lorentz, B. Vrbanovic and M. Galloway. Officials Present: Ms. P. Houston, C. Ladd, P. Bacon, L. MacDonald, M. Hodgins, K. Dever and Messrs. R.W. Pritchard, B. Stanley, G. Borovilos, J. Witmer, D. Corks, T. Fox, D. Mansell, F. Pizzuto and L.W. Neil. 1. DELEGATION - MR. MICHAEL GAUTREAU RE CITY SIGN BY-LAW REVIEW Mr. Michael Gautreau, React Signs, appeared as a delegation to address the Committee regarding the resolution passed February 26, 2001 by City Council in which it gave certain direction to staff with respect to review of the City's Sign By-law. He suggested that the original direction to staff was to reduce the proliferation of mobile signs and remarked that banning fluorescent lettering did not address this proliferation nor existing illegal signs. Mr. Gautreau commented that nothing has been done on Victoria Street to enforce the by-law and remove illegal signs even though complaints have been raised. He then described the business operations of his sign companies referencing monies invested to support the operations as well as supportive calls received from his customers who object to the City's February 26, 2001 resolution. Mr. Gautreau noted that some of the detail provided to Council by Mr. D. Lamka on fluorescent lettering was erroneous. He requested that in future the City give notice of any proposed changes or recommendations involving the sign by-law to all known sign companies and every person or business that has ever applied for a sign permit. Mayor C. Zehr pointed out that the resolution was direction only and that staff could provide alternative recommendations in the staff report. Mr. B. Stanley indicated that based on the February 26, 2001 resolution, staff had ceased contacting other municipalities. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - It was resolved: "That notwithstanding Council's February 26, 2001 resolution providing certain direction to staff with respect to review of the City's Sign By-law, staff be further directed to fully investigate and address all issues of concern with regard to the existing by-law as part of the review." BPS-01-020 2000 DOWNTOWN MONITORING REPORT BRIDGEPORT-CENTRE WARD & WEST-VICTORIA PARK WARD The Committee considered Business and Planning Services report BPS-01-020 (2000 Downtown Monitoring Report) dated February 27, 2001. The report was the fourth in a series of annual downtown monitoring reports and outlines progress toward achievement of goals set out by the Mayor's Task Force on the Downtown in 1995 and more recently in the 1999-2001 Strategic Action Plan for the downtown. It summarizes initiatives and progress in downtown development in five key areas from the Action Plan: housing; bring people downtown; support business; physical environment; and neighbourhood and community development. The executive summary touched on the decline in both office and retail vacancy rates, marginal increase in the number of employees and businesses in the downtown, increased residential development in the downtown, waiting lists for monthly parking spaces, significant private sector investments and lists major projects completed or underway. Ms. K. Dever advised the Committee that the timing of collection of data to measure downtown initiatives and progress had been changed to a calendar year basis. She then made a detailed powerpoint presentation reviewing each of the topics within the staff report and provided a listing of what could be expected during the 2001 year to further revitalization within the downtown. Mayor C. Zehr commented that increased multi-residential development was the clear way to go in terms of achieving revitalization goals for the downtown. The Committee agreed to accept the staff report for information purposes. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 5, 2001 3. BPS-01-032 - 20 - CITY OF KITCHENER BUILDING REGULATORY REFORM ADVISORY GROUP (BRRAG) The Committee was in receipt of Business and Planning Services information report BPS-01-032 dated February 21, 2001 dealing with activities of the Building Regulatory Reform Advisory Group (BRRAG). It was noted in the report that the group was created to prepare a report and recommendations that would set out direction for reforming Ontario's building regulatory system. Key objectives of BRRAG were to: · improve public safety · streamline the delivery of building-related inspection and review services · improve the construction liability regime; and · streamline code administration, appeal and dispute resolution mechanisms Mr. J. Witmer advised that on February 26, 2001, representatives of AMO, OBOA and LMCBO met with officials of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to provide input from stakeholders on implementation issues respecting the building regulatory reform undertaking. He noted that at the meeting three major objectives were identified: · registration of building practitioners · streamlining proposals · insurance and accountability Mr. Witmer pointed out that discussion focused on the first two objectives regarding registration and streamlining initiatives while the third objective was left to be formulated for discussion with stakeholders at a later date. He then listed the following areas where input from Council should be provided: a) Registration · certification and registration of building practitioners · requirements for registration · defining building practitioners · registration and fees b) Streamlining Proposals · standardized forms · timeframe for permit review · applicable law and site plan control · inspection service levels · building permitfees · cross-jurisdiction plan certification · appeals · registered code agencies · inspections transferred to municipalities from ESA and TSSA · innovative building designs · Ministers rulings: sufficiency of compliance · municipal licencing c) Insurance and Accountability · increased awareness of expected roles and responsibilities · costs and benefits · improved quality · shared costs · more equitable insurance coverage for practitioners · leveling the period of liability exposure · creating a building advisory council In response to questions raised, Mr. Witmer described how the reforms would benefit municipalities in terms of their dealings with building practitioners. Further, he advised that registration will apply to individuals and to business entities and that municipal officials would have different classes of registration in relation to specialized tasks. Mayor C. Zehr commented that he had been concerned about how the municipality could be affected at a staffing level by the reforms. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 5, 2001 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. BPS-01-037 REVISION TO TARIFF OF FEES BY-LAW SUBDIVISION REGISTRATION The Committee considered Business and Planning Services report BPS-01-037 dated March 1, 2001 distributed this date dealing with a request to revise the current Tariff of Fees By-law with respect to subdivision registrations. It was pointed out in the report that currently a $530 fee is charged for the registration of each stage of a plan of subdivision. However, to encourage concurrent registration of multiple stages, it is proposed to charge a $530 fee for the first registration with an additional charge of only $100 for registration of each concurrent stage. Ms. C. Ladd advised that staff had inadvertently not included this reduction in fees in the annual consideration of the City's Tariff of Fees summary. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - It was resolved: "That the Subdivision Registration fee under the current Tariff of Fees By-law be revised to read as follows: Registration of Plan: $530/single stage + $100 each additional concurrent stage registration." 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk