Key decisions of Kitchener Council: Dec. 19, 2022

Key decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items presented at Kitchener City Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Kitchener crafting plan in response to Bill 23

Kitchener Council directed staff to prepare an implementation action plan for Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022; as well as other recently approved Provincial legislation, including Bill 13, Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021; and Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022. Staff are to report back to Council by June 2023.

Staff have estimated that, as a result of Bill 23, the City would lose:

• An average of $4 million annually from lost development charges. Development charges are used to pay for new infrastructure required to support growth including roads; water and wastewater systems; parks; fire halls; sports facilities and other amenities.
• $10-$17 million annually that is traditionally received from new developments in lieu of parkland. The combined legislation could also reduce potential parkland by 50 per cent.

It could require a property tax increase of 10 percent — in addition to regular inflationary property tax increases — to fund the losses to the community associated with Bill 23.

Projects for nearly 2,000 new homes move ahead

Council approved applications to allow four projects to build nearly 2,000 condominiums and rental apartments across Kitchener.

• At 3241-3247 King St. E. and 108 Cameo Dr.: Draft approval of a vacant land condominium associated with a proposal to build three towers of 24, 23, and 19 storeys containing 946 rental units plus a shared parking structure. The project is proposed by Day Nominee Corporation.
• 206 to 210 Duke St. E. and 46 to 50 Madison Ave. N.: A change in land use designation and zoning for the creation of 100 units, including 40 deeply affordable homes, in a major transit station area. The project, proposed by The Knossos Housing Corporation of Waterloo Region, directly responds to the need for more affordable housing during the current housing crisis.
• 1251-1253 King St. E. and 16 Sheldon Ave. S.: A change in land use designation and zoning for the creation of a 27-storey mixed-use residential building and an eight-storey residential building with a shared amenity area and shared structured parking facility. The mixed-use building would create a total of 408 residential units. The project is proposed by King Sheldon Kitchener Holdings Inc.
• 4220 King St. E. and 25 Sportsworld Crossing Rd.: A change in land use designation and zoning for the creation of three towers of 14, 15 and 18 storeys that will contain a total of 520 residential units plus commercial space. The project is proposed by Tricar Property Limited and 4220 King Street (Kitchener) Limited.
• 1257-1265 Ottawa St. S.: A change in zoning for the creation of a three-storey, 20-unit building. The project is proposed by Ihor Dotsenko, Yuliya Dotsenko and 9474765 Canada Inc.

Kitchener continues strong growth

Kitchener Council received the results of an annual growth report. Key findings are:

• Growth in Kitchener remained strong in the past year with 3,036 homes created.
• A broad range of housing types have been developed with 63 percent as multiple-dwelling types (67 percent of multiple-dwelling types were low-rise to mid-rise buildings); five percent as townhouses; and 32 percent in single-detached, semi-detached, and duplex dwellings.
• Kitchener has again exceeded its minimum annual intensification target with 51 per cent of residential growth within the built-up area in 2021.
• Development opportunities in both the Designated Greenfield Area and through intensification are more than sufficient to accommodate growth to 2031 and beyond.

Boathouse receives final approval for redevelopment

Kitchener Council provided final lease approval to allow the redevelopment of the Boathouse, a key venue in the heart of Victoria Park. Walkinshaw Holdings will transform the Boathouse into an iconic venue for live music, food, and indoor and outdoor entertainment. They will place a focus on social responsibility, with paid local live music a minimum of two days a week, and locally sourced food and drink. Renovations will include expansion of the outdoor patio, upgrading the interior, improving the main entrance and enhancing the views of Victoria Park Lake. Kitchener’s Heritage Committee approved the redevelopment plans in October 2022. Construction is expected to begin in early 2023 with doors opening to the public next summer.

New policy to reduce fear

Kitchener Council approved a new policy aimed at supporting the well-being of residents with undetermined immigration status, or no immigration status, in Kitchener. Access Without Fear was drafted in collaboration with the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee, whose members spearheaded the development of the policy earlier this year.

While the City does not ask residents their immigration status when they access services — such recreational programs for children and adults — the policy is designed to clarify and affirm the City’s commitment to providing access to City services to residents with uncertain or no immigration status.

The new Access Without Fear policy supports the city’s Strategic Plan 2019-2022 by helping to create a caring community, which is one of the plan’s five core priorities.

In early 2023, City staff who interact with the public will receive training about the policy, followed by an education campaign to help residents with undetermined status, or no immigration status, understand that they are welcome at the City of Kitchener and may fully access municipal services without fear of their immigration status being asked about or reported to other orders of government.

Rotary Plaza honours Kitchener club

Kitchener Council congratulated the Rotary Club of Kitchener on its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, the City has renamed the Duke Street Plaza, located at the corner of Duke and Young streets, Rotary Plaza. A commemorative plaque, which was unveiled during the meeting, is to be installed at the plaza following the completion of outdoor construction taking place at City Hall.

Rotary Plaza is a dedication to the club’s century of service to the residents of Kitchener and surrounding communities, and Rotary’s promise of continued service for the years to come.

Established in June 1922, the Rotary Club of Kitchener was the first local Rotary Club and was instrumental in forming the Waterloo Club; the Kitchener-Conestoga Club; the Kitchener Westmount Club; and the Kitchener Grand River Club. The efforts of Kitchener Club members led to the establishment of the Rotary Children’s Centre, which is now known as KidsAbility; the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery; the Rotary Peace Park located in RIM Park; and have supported more than 50 different organizations and groups in our community.

House of Friendship programs continue running in Kitchener facilities

Kitchener Council approved moving $158,621 in funding from the Tier 1 grant program to the Neighbourhood Programs and Services operating budget, and executing a funding agreement, renewable every two years, to cover expenses associated with House of Friendship providing food programs to residents at City of Kitchener facilities. Through five city community centres, the programs provide emergency food distribution, community gardens, cooking classes, and other services to more than 5,000 residents.

User fees, water and natural gas rates adjusted

Kitchener Council approved below-inflation increases to user fees and water utility rates; a reduction in natural gas supply rate; and an increase in natural gas delivery rate to cover capital, operational and financial requirements.

The changes include:

• A four per cent increase in user fees. User fees make up approximately 10 per cent of the revenues used to fund the tax supported operating budget. Fees and charges are often used for programs and services where customers have a choice whether to use them and, for this reason, the use of fees and charges tends to be favoured over property taxes alone.
  
• The combined Water Utilities rate increase is 4.5 per cent, or $3.45/month for the average residential customer and comes into effect January 1, 2023
• For natural gas, a decrease from 21.45 cents per cubic metre to 20.85 cents per cubic metre to respond to slightly lower market prices in updated forecasts; and increasing the delivery rate to cover various capital, operations and financial requirements. The financial implications to an average Kitchener Utilities residential customers will be approximately $81 annually

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