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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv 2009-11-25 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES November 25, 2009 City of Kitchener The Economic Development Advisory Committee met this date, chaired by Adrian Conrad; the following members were in attendance: Bernie Nimer, Peter Benninger, Councillor Christina Weylie, Steven Voll, Jeremy Auger, Ian Cook, Bob Denton, Rebecca Short, Brian Bennett, Mark Bingeman, Mayor Carl Zehr, The following people sent their regrets: The following people were absent: Staff in attendance: Rod Regier, Tracey DeVille, Janette MacDonald, Valerie Machedo, Cory Bluhm, Terry Boutilier, Heather Holbrook, Tina Malone-Wright, Leslie Looker, Rob Pettapiece, Diane Garrington, Jeff Willmer, Alain Pinard Approval of minutes were deferred to December meeting. 2.1 Mill-Courtland Project Adrian Conrad introduced the delegations from the University of Waterloo, and provided a brief introduction to the presentations on the Mill-Courtland Project. Dr. Mark Seasons, Associate Dean of Environmental Services provided an overview of the presentation and how the University of Waterloo is and can be involved with the City, who and what the environmental studies department are and what they do. Ms. Karen Hammond, Professor, provided the committee with an overview of the site, and how the UW and the planning students came upon this project. Cory Bluhm and Heather Holbrook presented in detail, two of the projects they felt were the stronger ones. Terry Boutilier thanked the University of Waterloo for their cooperation and the opportunities to work with the students. Questions / Comments: How big is that area in comparison to the downtown core? - it is pretty comparable, over 100 acres In these designs, there are some that feature a large water element, would the creek be dammed to assist in this, since at times the creek is very low - Some students did look at that but the Grand River Conservation Authority discouraged that in order to keep the flow moving Is the creek just more of a flood way and is the current more strong at certain times of the year? - Yes, that is correct Did you align it with Places to Grow and the specific densities as related to that for Kitchener and was there a rational for balance? - There is some variations within the projects, we did have them balance out the development. Are some of these developments projects that could be phased? - Yes but we did not require that of the students for this project, it would have been the next step Interesting how linear park at one end and the creek through the centre, Rockway Golf Course at another end, major green space with the creek connecting, importance of this goes to conversation with a tech company in California and their ability to recruit University of Waterloo grads, and the question was asked about what was the motivation for the students to move there and the response was the students want great companies, perfect weather, mountains and a beach. So this type of system becomes important to young workers and recruitment. It is important to figure out how to develop it. Similar to San Antonio, years ago the river was seen as an unsafe place and through change it is has now been under continual development and success, this area has an opportunity for the same situation. There are great ideas in all of these and the creek is common and if there is something that can be done with the Grand River Conservation Authority, then we need to look at that. Adrian Conrad thanked the University of Waterloo and their students for working on this project and invited the committee members to take a closer look at the student projects around the room. Review of Employment Lands Study Tina Malone-Wright provided the Committee with a handout which outlines the comprehensive review of employment lands and advised the steps the city is taking to comply with the requirements set out by the province to review the lands. The Committee provided the following comments / questions: Where is the breaking point between associated retail and major retail uses - Major retail is not defined in the Places to Grow; through this study we will have to come up with a definition So is the definition defined by each municipality – why are some changing their uses and others are not - It could be that some municipalities that have finished their studies have included that into their studies, and it is possible that your own study could identity that and support it. Are these studies approved by the province? - They are approved by the council, then included in the OP which is approved by the region What is the current # of jobs in City of Kitchener? - 99, 380 and we just need to come up to 130,000 by 2031 Although policy only applies to areas outside the downtown do you include those employment numbers? - No it is on the areas outside the downtown If 130,000 is the employment numbers of the entire city including the downtown, that will affect the need for employment lands correct? - Yes that is correct – we are looking to protect any future lands that need to feed the industrial land. The city has to meet the target of 50 jobs per h for new Greenfield development. We do set up higher density targets for areas in the downtown. If you look at the Mill-Courtland project as an example and if our new employment opportunity are more office natured we may be looking at not developing the downtown and redeveloping the outlining areas. - Demonstrating the need for that has to be shown and conversions have to happen before it can be done. Employment lands and the industrial facilities that currently exist, if they wanted to convert them to office use is that allowed? - Office is an employment use so yes they could Staff advised that it is important the city develop a framework for analyzing requests for rezoning land and we need a coherent approach to doing that. Looking at land reuse and where we can fit more jobs on a piece of land is important. There is a shift happening in the city from manufacturing to other uses and we need to be prepared for that transition. Project Updates Rod Regier provided the committee with the project updates noting that Communitech did get a grant to develop the Digital Media Convergence Centre which is part of the cluster strategy that was identified by economic development and the committee. The Committee asked if there staff had any information regarding the next step in GO Transit and what the ridership is. - GO Transit’s next step is a funding commitment by the federal government, there are infrastructure bottlenecks at Union Station which they are updating now. Staff advised they will try to get the ridership numbers Due to the timing of the December meeting being so close to the holiday season, the Committee agreed to change the meeting date to December 16, 2009 at 11:00. On motion meeting adjourned at 12:57 p.m.