Committee of Adjustment Holds Statutory Public Hearing on Planning Applications

The Committee of Adjustment held a statutory public hearing on a series of planning applications, including minor variances and consents for residential intensification, severances and larger redevelopment files. Members declared conflicts on the Belleview Avenue files and on 9 Westgate Walk. A recurring issue across several applications was the city's new water allocation policy, which staff said allowed previously deferred matters to move forward, often with a new condition requiring confirmation under the zoning bylaw within two years. The committee approved most applications before it and deferred the 37 Heman Street file to February 2027 or sooner.

Topics Discussed

WATER ALLOCATION POLICY

Staff and applicants repeatedly referred to the city's new water allocation policy as the reason some previously delayed applications could proceed. On the Rockway Drive file, staff said, "Kitchener has been working very closely with the region and stakeholders to find a path forward to address the water capacity issue." Staff also referenced the policy's adoption date, saying it was approved "at the June 29th, 2026 Kitchener City Council." Several approvals included a new condition requiring applicants to obtain a confirmation letter under the zoning bylaw within two years.

7076 ROCKWAY DRIVE

The committee returned to consent application B2025-032 for 7076 Rockway Drive, which had been deferred in December 2025 and again on Feb. 17, 2026 because of water capacity concerns raised by the Region of Waterloo. Staff reported 13 written submissions in opposition.

Resident Tracy Livingstone objected to a condition tied to relocation of a fibre optic hub box serving the street. She told the committee, "This fiber optic hub box that was installed at 776 Rockway is a junction box that now serves the entire street. It was permanently placed within municipal right of way on city property." She added that homes on the street now have active underground lines connected to that box.

Other residents raised concerns about garbage, parking and the form of housing proposed. The applicant responded that garbage collection would comply with regional requirements and that parking arrangements would be managed privately. The committee approved the application.

37 HEMAN STREET

For File A2026-004, 37 Heman Street, the committee deferred the variance application to February 2027 or sooner without a deferral fee. The applicant indicated work had already begun but was being held up by environmental matters. Asked whether the process had started, the applicant replied, "Yes, it has already been started. there is some roadblock regarding the tree protection and the water drainage." Meeting materials also referenced concerns involving drainage and conservation authority review.

BELLEVIEW AVENUE APPLICATIONS

Applications at 47 and 51 Belleview Avenue covered variances and consents to create new residential lots with shared access arrangements. Residents focused on traffic, parking and vehicle movement on the shared driveway.

James Jowski told the committee, "my biggest concern uh for this build was um I'm I could be wrong um but down the street at 9 191 Belleview um there's a property that was built there recently and I just took a look at it this morning and I couldn't turn around it when I pulled in. I had to reverse. So apparently from my understanding is this type of build will be be on this um lot that we're talking about today, but there will be two with a shared driveway. So that raises concerns uh about safety and space and all that stuff."

Another resident said, "My biggest concern was though with the high traffic of eight families living on this one shared driveway."

Staff and the applicant argued the proposal complied with current rules. One speaker said, "there will be less parking per unit. And so, while this will introduce a higher level of density, it is planned. There are three driveways that are in each lot, one driveway per lot. So, it's no different than a single detached home that way. And it complies with all the zoning rules that are in place right now." The committee approved the applications, subject to water allocation conditions.

LARGE-SCALE RESIDENTIAL APPROVALS

The committee also approved several larger residential files.

At 60 West Heights Drive (A2026-048), staff described the proposal as "a 14story 384 bed residential care facility," requiring variances for parking and height. Planning staff said they had reviewed the application against the four tests of the Planning Act and recommended approval. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic supported the project, saying, "it's nice to see there's more um residentialcare facilities going in."

At 157 Schweitzer Street, the committee approved a 12-unit residential intensification project.

At 1333 Weaver Street East, the committee approved multiple severances tied to a phased condominium development with hundreds of residential units and commercial space. Staff member Malone Wright said, "This is probably one of the most comprehensive complex applications that staff have dealt with in a long time."

Motions

Passed

• 7076 Rockway Drive — File B2025-032: consent application approved, with water allocation condition
• 181 Queen Street North: minor variance approved
• 45 Crestwood Avenue — File 2022-6-04645: minor variance approved
• 121 Water Street South — File A2026-047: minor variances approved
• 60 West Heights Drive — File A2026-048: variances for residential care facility approved
• 452nd Avenue semi-detached housing development: approved, with tree preservation condition retained
• 275 Fergus Avenue — Files B2026-014 and B2026-015: approved
• 1880 Eron Street West — Files B2026-016 and B2026-017: approved
• 157 Schweitzer Street — multiple files: approved
• 47 and 51 Belleview Avenue — Files B2026-021, B2026-022, A2026-050, A2026-051: approved
• 1333 Weaver Street East — consent and variance files: approved

Deferred

• 37 Heman Street — File A2026-004: deferred to February 2027 or sooner

Introduced / No final outcome recorded in notes

• 9 Westgate Walk: sanitary easement application introduced; no final vote recorded
• 181 Crane Street North: listed as new business; no outcome recorded

Attendees

Committee members identified from the notes and member list: - Berry Vrbanovic - Dave Schnider

Other members participated in recorded votes, but their names were not clearly identified in the notes provided.