Key decisions of Kitchener Council: April 17, 2023

Council advances construction of 64 homes in two developments

Council approved zoning by-law amendments and adopted and forwarded official plan amendment applications to the Region of Waterloo for approval, to permit the construction of64 stacked townhouses in two projects —one in Williamsburg and the other in the Centreville-Chicopee neighbourhood.

The development at 265 Cotton Grass St. is within Williamsburg Town Centre. The 3.5-storey, 32-unit project is planned to offer two and three-bedroom rentals. The Williamsburg Town Centre was conceived as the focus for this community and includes commercial lands, medium density residential lands, and a central park space (Max Becker Commons). This community has been developed by Schlegel Urban Developments Corp. Read the report.

The development in Centreville-Chicopee will see the construction of 32 stacked townhouses at the corner of King Street East and Morrison Road (7 Morrison Rd.). A vacant home and detached garage currently occupy the property. They would be demolished to make way for the new development. The plan, proposed by Klondike Homes Ltd., has changed during the application process to increase a yard setback to increase the amount of area for tree plantings. Read the report.

Community grant funding approved for 45 groups in 2023 application cycle

Council approved 45 community grants (Tier 2) totaling $198,137 for the 2023 application cycle. Community grants assist organizations and groups providing not-for-profit services in the areas of arts and culture; special events; community support and development; and minor sports or recreation. Applications were reviewed by a Peer and Staff Review Committee (PSRC) which included three community volunteers and five staff from arts/creative industries; special events; sport development; community development; and grant administration. As part of this review cycle, some groups/organizations that have received community grant funding for five or more years were recommended for Tier 1 grant funding, which provides operating support for foundational not-for-profit groups delivering services essential to a healthy and vibrant community. Read the report.

Council approves Heritage designation for A.R. Goudie Eventide Home

Council approved heritage designation of A.R. Goudie Eventide Home, a long-term care facility located at 369 Frederick St., as part of a plan to add 80 new beds to the long-term care home. The new beds would be located in a five-storey building and a three-storey addition to the existing building. Although the current building dates to 1993, the location has served Kitchener residents since 1869. Staff recommended that the building be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act due to its significant design, historical and contextual value. Read the report.

Mill Courtland Community Centre expansion

Councillors directed staff to move to detailed design for an estimated$4.5-million expansion of the Mill Courtland Community Centre. The small building, roughly 8,700 square feet, and overall site footprint is insufficient given the large number of services and programs delivered at the site in partnership with several neighbourhood groups.

The Mill Courtland neighbourhood is projected to grow 37 per cent by 2041, outpacing the projected growth of 24 per cent during the same period. An expansion to the centre was recommended in the 2005 Leisure Facilities Master Plan and has been delayed due to competing funding needs. Read the report.