HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv - 2006-10-25ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
October 25, 2006 City of Kitchener
The Economic Development Advisory Committee met this date, chaired by Hans
Pottkamper, commencing at 11:15 a.m. with the following members in
attendance: Mayor Carl Zehr, Councillor Christina Weylie, Howie Budd, Henrik
Noesgaard, Mark Paleczy, Dan Piedra, Glen Woolner, Lawrence Bingeman,
Peter Benninger, Sherryl Petricevic and Len Carter
The following people sent their regrets: Bob Denton, Ed Brooker
The following people were absent: Kathy Durst, Sunshine Chen
Staff in attendance: Rod Regier, Rob Morgan,
Valerie Bradford, Jeff Willmer, Valerie Bradford,
Silvia Wright, Sandy Curzon
1. NEW BUSINESS
1.1 Approval of minutes -
Tracey DeVille, Terry Boutilier,
Chantelle Dixon, Cory Bluhm,
The minutes of September 27, 2006 be approved.
Moved by Peter Benninger
Seconded by Glen Woolner
Carried
1.1 Employment Lands Protection as per Provincial Policy Statement and
"Places to Grow" Growth Plan -
The Committee received, excerpts of the Provincial Policy Statement and "Places
to Grow" Growth Plan dealing with the employment areas and their definitions.
Mr. Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning, discussed the impact of these two
documents on the planning practices of the City. He noted that the section 1.3.2
of the Provincial Policy Statement limits the freedom of planning authorities to
permit conversion of employment lands to non-employment lands.
1.3.2 Planning authorities may permit conversion of lands within employment
areas to non-employment uses through a comprehensive review, only
where it has been demonstrated that the land is not required for
employment purposes over the long term and that there is a need for the
conversion.
Mr. Willmer noted that the comprehensive review required by the Provincial
Policy Statement would include the entire Region to gain a full understanding of
the employment land needs and that review would need to start at the Municipal
level. He advised that the City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo and the Region of
Waterloo, along with the City of Kitchener are currently working together on a
plan to protect identified employment lands.
Mr. Willmer requested EDAC provide an informal sub-committee of volunteers
from the Economic Development Advisory Committee to identify the criteria that
should be used when deciding on a designated employment land change of use
and also identify the potential flexibility within industrial zones. Hans Pottkamper,
Peter Benninger, Lawrence Bingeman and Henrik Noesgaard volunteered to
work on these issues as asub-committee. Mr. Willmer advised that he would be
in contact with them to get the sub-committee together and work on this
immediately.
1.2 Urban Vitality
Ms. Silvia Wright provided the Committee with a presentation on the Urban
Vitality that is currently being recognized in the City of Kitchener.
She provided the Committee with an overview on the current talents trends,
noting that research has shown that there is a demographic shift happening with
today's talent and that most people first look for somewhere to live then find
somewhere to work. Increasingly businesses will locate where the talent is in
order to stay competitive.
What talent wants:
^ Economic Opportunities
^ Educational Opportunities
^ Urban Vitality
Ms. Wright advised that market insight has also shown that the demographics of
people investing in downtown Kitchener are predominantly 25-35 year olds,
mostly single working professionals in the KW area and a large number of them
are first-time homeowners. Research has also shown that a large number of
these people find out about Kitchener through Google searches and blogs.
Mr. Cory Bluhm, Urban Investment Advisor, provided detailed examples of what
Kitchener citizens really want the downtown to look like from the results of the
downtown survey.
^ More pedestrian feel
^ More retail stores
^ Balance for vehicle traffic
He advised that the survey provided both pros & cons to each option in order to
have a full understanding and that the survey did provide a way to identify the
demographic nature of each respondent.
1.3 Centre Block Update
Mr. Rod Regier, Executive Director, provided the Committee with the following
updates on the Centre Block Request for Proposal:
^ RFP approved by Council
^ Mail out to be done beginning of November
^ Expression of Interest due January 2007
^ Short list by summer 2007
^ Detailed proposal developed by two finalist firms over summer 2007
^ Recommendation to Council Fall 2007
1.4 Passport to Success Update
Ms. Valerie Bradford, Business Development Officer, provided the following
update on the Passport to Success event held over Oktoberfest:
^ CTT & the 3 municipalities participated
^ Invitations were sent to people with an interest in Kitchener & Waterloo
^ First 30 people to respond got a seat on the bus
Ms. Bradford also advised that this event, held yearly, has also won awards by
EDCO.
Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
