HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-09-033 - Growth Management Plan UpdateREPORT
Report To: Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting: February 23, 2009
Submitted By: Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning (741-2319)
Prepared By: Brandon Sloan, Senior Planner (741-2648)
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: February 18, 2009
Report No.: DTS-09-033
Subject: GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
That Report DTS-09-033 -Growth Management Plan Update, be received for information.
BACKGROUND:
At the February 9th meeting of the Development & Technical Services Committee (DTSC) staff
was directed to report to the February 23, 2009 Council meeting on the practicality of convening
a committee/task force comprised of staff, developers or their representatives and other
stakeholders, to meet and discuss issues with the draft Growth Management Plan with the
intent to resolve issues raised by two delegations prior to March 30, 2009. This report is staff's
response to the DTSC direction.
REPORT:
The preparation of the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS) included significant
public involvement. One of the action items of the KGMS is to evolve Kitchener's Staging of
Development process into atwo-step growth management program comprised of an annual
monitoring report and a biannual growth management plan. A draft of the first biannual growth
management plan was tabled at the February 9t" DTSC meeting. The analysis section of the
draft Kitchener Growth Management Plan (KGMP) 2009-2010 is organized into sections that
correspond with the six KGMS goals. The KGMS included public involvement.
The process for preparing the draft KGMP 2009-2010 is comparable to the historic Staging of
Development process in terms of landowner and public involvement . In both cases a draft was
prepared by staff, circulated to the property owners/industry/agencies, to be followed by a staff
report that includes a response to any input received. The preparation of the report and the draft
recommendation for the timing of development is intended to be an objective staff process that
addresses all stakeholder interests, and not just development interests.
To prepare the draft KGMP 2009-2010, staff consulted with numerous internal and agency
stakeholders. Those contacted to date are generally supportive of the approach proposed by
staff and there is little interest in engaging in another Task Force or similar process. Some
agencies, such as the school boards, commented that they may have additional comments if
there are revisions to the relative priorities and timing recommended in the draft KGMP 2009-
2010.
As identified at the Feb. 9t" DTSC meeting, staff have already begun meeting with greenfield
developers and other development interests in the community. We will continue to make
ourselves available for further discussion where possible. So far most of our consultations have
taken place with greenfield development interests on the west side of the City. We have not yet
heard from intensification builders nor from greenfield developers and builders with interests in
other parts of the City. Until we obtain confirmation it will be assumed that these parties are
generally supportive of the draft KGMP 2009-2010.
More specifically, we will meet individually with the Feb 9t"delegations, and any others that wish
to discuss the draft KGMP 2009-2010 where possible. In addition, the draft KGMP 2009-2010.is
a topic for discussion and additional input at the Feb. 20t" meeting of the Waterloo Region
Homebuilders Association (WRHBA) Liaison Committee.
It is noted that any changes in response to one developer or parcel of land, impact the analysis,
timing of projects and resources available to all other areas. As a result there is serious doubt
that a consensus can ever be achieved. At the very least, the consultation would likely require a
series of meetings which would add many months to the decision-making process.
Staff will coordinate the input received by all and suggest that the deadline for submissions be
March 9t". We encourage those that are supportive of the relative priorities and timing
recommended in the KGMP 2009-2010 to provide responses and remain part of the process
because any revisions could affect them. As is typically the case, staff will balance the
interests, including the public interest, and report back to the March 30t" DTSC with a report that
addresses the input and a final recommendation on the first biannual Growth Management Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNICATIONS:
N/A
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommend that no further action be taken with respect to the creation of another Task
Force and that staff continue to meet, dialogue and receive input from stakeholders with the
intent of preparing a final report on the Growth Management Plan for the March 30t" DISC
meeting.
Brandon Sloan, MCIP, RPP
Senior Planner
Alain Pinard, MA, MCIP, RPP
Interim Director of Planning
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