Kingston Planning Committee Meeting

The Kingston Planning Committee discussed a proposed 59-unit apartment building at 235-247 Portsmouth Avenue and an application to permit an asphalt plant at 1575 Westbrook Road. Staff recommended approval of the Portsmouth Avenue zoning amendment. The Westbrook Road application was defeated on a tie vote after extensive debate about truck traffic, emissions, wells and stormwater.

Topics Discussed

1. PORTSMOUTH AVENUE APARTMENT: 59-unit building and zoning change

The committee considered a zoning bylaw amendment for 235-247 Portsmouth Avenue to allow a four-storey apartment building with 59 dwelling units. Staff said the application would amend the zoning to permit the apartment form and site-specific exceptions. Senior Planner Ian Clenning introduced the item by saying, "Tonight we are here to present a recommendation report regarding an application for zoning bylaw amendment for the purpose located at 235 to 247 Portsmouth Avenue."

Staff said the revised proposal increased setbacks, moved the building toward the southwest portion of the site, and removed balconies from the first through third storeys facing north and east. Those changes were presented as measures to reduce impacts on adjacent homes.

2. PORTSMOUTH AVENUE: Parking, traffic, drainage and site design

Committee members discussed parking supply, affordability, traffic and stormwater servicing. The project would provide 25 parking spaces. Councillor Don Amos noted city research supporting reduced parking, saying, "I can also note that the power of parking by the city of Kingston highlighted how reduced parking can increase housing affordability."

Staff said stormwater and detailed servicing would be addressed later in the process, explaining, "So at this stage, so at the official plan and zoning bylaw amendment stage, we receive these studies to ensure that the site can feasibly accommodate stormwater management facilities." Questions were also raised about accessibility and building design, with staff indicating those details would continue through site plan review.

3. PORTSMOUTH AVENUE: Sustainability and landscaping

The applicant said the building is being designed to meet CMHC MLI Select program targets and to participate in the city's green standard community improvement plan. Committee members also asked about landscaping and tree planting. Councillor Paul Chaves signalled support for the project and said, "So I think I can see my way through that and recognise that this can be done. And or we set the example of how it will be done and do it well."

4. WESTBROOK ROAD ASPHALT PLANT: Planning application and truck routing

The committee also considered official plan and zoning amendments for 1575 Westbrook Road to permit an asphalt plant. Senior Planner Shanti Birdie summarized the file: "The purpose and effect of the application is to amend the city of Kingston official plan and the Kingston zoning bylaw to permit an asphalt plant on the subject property."

Traffic and truck routing were central issues. Residents questioned road safety and enforcement. Martha Vinendall told the committee, "I would hate to see a fatality. So who's going to govern their speed in particular? Because I have never in 35 years seen an MTO law enforcement. Come along that road ever." Another resident, Frank Dixon, asked for more time and an on-site review, saying, "I'd like to see the file deferred further. Until a site visit by the Plan and Committee. Planning staff, the proponent. The public and the media. Go out and examine the site and the neighbourhood on the ground. We cannot understand this file sitting in this room."

5. WESTBROOK ROAD ASPHALT PLANT: Emissions, health, wells and stormwater

Residents and councillors raised concerns about odour, airborne pollutants, groundwater and private wells. Councillor Conny Glenn said, "In regards to health and safety and issues. Because within the official plan, it states enables a site can be developed with non-intensive and non-polluting industry uses. I would presume polluting what include airborne pollutants, even, even those who can't see." She added that when passing roadwork sites with asphalt, "I tend to smell that. I tend to get some headaches."

The applicant and supporting consultants argued the emissions would remain within provincial limits. One speaker said, "all contaminants involved will be below the permitted ministry limit with more than half of the contaminants, anticipated at less than one percent of what the ministry would allow." The applicant also said, "And still, uh, the numbers and the percentages that are coming up are overwhelmingly under that one percent of what the ministry would consider to be, um, what is called legally justifiable and supportable."

Groundwater and stormwater were also major concerns. A resident told the committee, "Mr. Chair, I'm concerned. I want to know about whether the bedrock that exists there. And the water containment on stormwater is one metre down, you said. How are you going to achieve that? How do you achieve that? It's important to me, to my community that we not impact wells." Staff said the site contains an existing well and a wetland feature and that detailed engineering review would continue if the application advanced. Lisa Osanic said, "Um, I would be very interested to hear more about The Black Swotin that water. Um, that is a concern."

Motions

Passed: - Staff recommendation for the zoning bylaw amendment at 235-247 Portsmouth Avenue was presented in support of approval.

Defeated: - 1575 Westbrook Road official plan and zoning bylaw amendments for an asphalt plant — defeated on a tie vote.

Requested but not decided in the notes provided: - Request by Frank Dixon to defer the asphalt plant application for a site visit. - Discussion of a possible future motion on heavy truck restrictions related to the Westbrook Road area.

Attendees

Councillors identified in the discussion as present: - Don Amos - Paul Chaves - Conny Glenn - Lisa Osanic

Other participants identified in the discussion: - Ian Clenning, Senior Planner - Shanti Birdie, Senior Planner - Frank Dixon - Martha Vinendall