City of Waterloo council summary (3)
The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at the Oct. 28 council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Northdale Tax Increment Grant Program
Council has extended, for an additional five years, the Northdale Tax Increment Grant (TIG) program. The original five-year program is set to expire at the end of October. TIGs are a form of tax assistance that can be provided to the private sector to encourage investment in a specific community. The purpose of the Northdale TIG is to promote projects that are green and sustainable. Although there has been a great deal of development in Northdale over the last few years, no applications were received in the first five years of the program.
2019 Waterloo Award recipients
Eric Davis and David Marskell are the two recipients of this year’s Waterloo Award. Full details can be found in a separate news release being issued by the city.
Parkview Crematorium – future considerations
Council has approved a recommendation to continue to operate the Parkview Crematorium. The city conducted public consultation with the community at large, as well as funeral directors. The consultation found that respondents would like the city to invest in the crematorium and continue to operate it. Based on that input, the city has scaled back some of the potential reinvest plans and will replace two retorts, install a new cooler and some minor facility upgrades. Council has approved $103,000 for heating and ventilation improvements. The Parkview Crematorium will require a capital reinvestment of $1.6 million over the next 10 years to meet the community needs.
Informal public meetings
Zoning By-law amendment Z-19-06, General amendments to Zoning By-law 2018-050, Part 2 (city-wide)
The city’s Planning division is initiating the second phase of general amendments to the city’s Zoning By-law 2018-050. The first phase of general amendments was approved by council on June 24, 2019. The objective of these general amendments it to further correct, update, and /or add provisions that were not reflected in part one or the Zoning By-law approved by council on September 10, 2018. Some of the items being considered include decks, servicing, legislative updates (implementation of Bill 108) and other minor amendments. As this was an informal public meeting, council did not be make any decisions, but rather asked questions to gain further clarity.
Official Plan Amendment 27 and West Hill District Plan Amendment, 1130814 Ontario Inc., The INCC Corp./Waterloo Commons JV Inc., Home Hardware Stores Ltd.
A group of landowners are proposing a new public collector road to extend from The Boardwalk/Thorndale Drive roundabout to Erb St. W. The study area will be reviewed with consideration given to existing conditions, environmental constraints, servicing networks and transportation need. A preferred road alignment will be determined along with a master servicing strategy within the study area. The new collector road and the servicing strategy will be implemented through amendments to the Official Plan and the West Hill District Plan. It is anticipated that the proposed collector road and any future development in this area will be subject to further Planning Act applications initiated by individual landowners. The study area currently contains a small executive golf course, vacant (former) agricultural land, a commercial plaza, stormwater management ponds and natural features, a hydro corridor and a Region of Waterloo landfill. As this was an informal public meeting, council did not be make any decisions, but rather asked questions to gain further clarity.
Formal public meetings
Zoning by-law amendment Z-18-05, Lehome Ltd., for 84-86 Hickory St. W. and 284-286 Albert St.
Council has approved a zoning by-law amendment that will permit the construction of a six storey apartment building with 115 units, containing 143 bedrooms. The new building will consist of one, two, and three bedroom units, with 41 parking spaces and 36 bike parking spaces. In exchange for the higher bedroom count in the building, the developer will pay the city $891,000, to be used to fund other community initiatives, including $291,000 to the city’s affordable housing grant program, $100,000 to the development of a community hub (the redevelopment of the Waterloo Collegiate Institute) for community and institutional uses, and a contribution of $400,000 to the University gateway project to help implement design elements that will enhance the University Avenue streetscape.
Media contact:
Tony Iavarone
Director, Corporate Communications
519-747-8513
tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca