Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Meeting

The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee discussed a proposed climate lens for city decision-making, including whether future corporate reports should include greenhouse gas analysis and what staffing would be needed to support that work. The committee also reviewed two development applications: amendments to the Kitchener Green subdivision on former quarry lands near Bleams and Trussler roads, and a 113-unit residential condominium proposal at 26 Stanley Avenue and 31 Schweitzer Street. The Stanley/Schweitzer item was deferred so staff can return with more information on traffic, parking, infrastructure, and site design.

Topics Discussed

1. Climate lens framework

Item 3.2 was pulled from consent for discussion. Committee members focused on how the proposed climate lens would be applied and whether it would eventually be built into report templates used across the corporation.

Councillor Chapman asked about implementation and next steps. Staff said any change would have to go through the city's regular report template review process led by the clerk's office, and that the timing was not yet clear. Staff also said the lens is intended to cover both corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions.

On the question of project-level reporting, Stephanie Stretch told the committee: "We don't currently, there aren't currently many standards and and there isn't a standard that we use other than in our corporate reporting and our GHD reporting very broadly. So project specific, it will vary team to team and so to speak to the FTEES that would be required, I think we really need to look at what frameworks we would be incorporating in order to answer that adequately."

2. Costs and staffing for climate reporting

Committee members also questioned the report's statement that there were no financial implications. Councillor Chapman said adding a climate lens to reports would likely require staff time and asked for clearer information before any template changes move ahead.

Staff responded that they could not yet quantify staffing or cost impacts because those would depend on the framework ultimately chosen. The discussion ended with a request for more clarity on resource implications if greenhouse gas reporting becomes a standard part of corporate reports.

3. Kitchener Green subdivision amendments

The committee considered zoning and draft plan changes for the Kitchener Green subdivision, including files 30T18202 and 30T18201. The amendments add 2091 Bleams Road to the subdivision, revise the lot pattern, and include additional parkland.

Planning staff recommended approval. Evan said: "The applications are recommended for approval. Existing residential permissions are already in place and the zone change represents what staff believe is an improved lot fabric. The proposed zoning bylaw amendment demonstrates good planning principles and is consistent with provincial, regional, and city planning policies."

Councillor Chapman asked why some draft plan conditions had been removed from the final recommendation. In response, staff and committee members discussed whether certain conditions were still necessary. The committee directed that Condition 2.4, dealing with detailed design drawings and grading plans for parks and multi-use pathways, remain in place for further consideration at council.

4. Stanley Avenue / Schweitzer Street development

The committee reviewed an application for 26 Stanley Avenue and 31 Schweitzer Street, file ZBA21-019-SPB, to permit a 113-unit residential condominium development. The proposal includes 62 semi-detached dwellings and 51 townhouse units.

Planning staff said no official plan amendment is required and recommended approval subject to conditions. Mr. Evans told the committee: "Staff recommend introducing a holding provision for additional archaeological assessment as well as a record of site condition, which I will touch on at the end of my presentation. This assessment is not to facilitate a connection to the cemetery. A cemetery connection is no longer part of this plan."

Residents and councillors raised specific concerns about traffic congestion, emergency access, infrastructure, and the site's relationship to the adjacent cemetery. Jason Deneault said of a possible access point near the cemetery, "So within the cemetery as an access point where it's dark where people can easily run in and out without that barricade it it is cause for concern."

Resident James Orson described emergency access concerns from personal experience: "I've had two heart attacks. Had to come in by ambulance and like Miss Schaefer said, it's good thing it was off peak hours because you got to go all the way to Brazil to get around. Like why are we not looking at alternates before it becomes a tragedy? I mean we need another bridge or make that bridge wider. Do something."

A written resident submission also questioned servicing capacity: "Are there still only one water man and sewer line running under the Grand River to the area? There are already signs of aging. What is the plan to mitigate the additional strain this and the other developments will create? Who will bearthe cost for repairs and expansion?"

5. Traffic, parking, and deferral of the Stanley/Schweitzer item

The committee spent much of its discussion on whether the transportation analysis was sufficient and whether the proposal should proceed before broader network issues are addressed.

Councillor Singh said, "I know that we we need more housing and it is not anti-housing. It just it's more about safety concerns and I I agree with what Councilor Ioannidis said depending on when you go in that area it's challenging. There is gridlock and as the mayor said there's going to be more development up the hill and they'll have to come down and use the roundabout. Is the roundabout still of of the right size for this?"

Scott Davey added: "I'm hoping staff can engage with the region, look at the totality of development, including the like hundreds of units that are going at the at some point going at the top of the hill where the Tim Hortons is and then getting back with a comprehensive plan on what's going to happen because I do tend to agree with the fear that if there's gridlock for, you know, two hours a day at peak times, um, and there is an emergency situation, it is a long it is a long drive around and that's something we need to be on top of."

The committee ultimately deferred the item to a future council meeting so staff can return with more detail on traffic, parking, right-of-way design, green space, and related infrastructure concerns.

Motions

Recommended for approval / referred to council: - Climate lens framework item was discussed after being pulled from consent - Kitchener Green subdivision amendments (Files 30T18202 and 30T18201) - Direction that Condition 2.4 remain in place for further council consideration

Deferred: - 26 Stanley Avenue and 31 Schweitzer Street / ZBA21-019-SPB - Motion to defer the Stanley/Schweitzer application carried unanimously

Attendees

• Councillor Debbie Chapman
• Councillor Jason Deneault
• Councillor Scott Davey
• Councillor Ayo Owodunni
• Councillor Margaret Johnston
• Councillor Paul Singh
• Councillor Dave Schnider
• Councillor Bil Ioannidis
• Councillor Berry Vrbanovic
• Mayor Christine Michaud