Kitchener councillor suggests moratorium on approving more big new condo builds in city’s downtown

How fast is too fast? How high is too high?

The City of Kitchener is once again faced with a decision as another new towering residential development is being proposed on Victoria Street South.

A 25-storey tower with nearly 250 units and four ground floor retail spaces is what the newest proposal details for 130-142 Victoria St. S., near Bramm St.

“We don't seem to have a clear plan for what we want to do with the downtown,” said Kitchener Ward 9 Councillor, Debbie Chapman, suggesting the city may be starting to prioritize intensification for intensification's sake — and changing zoning rules on the fly.

“So if we go with our current plan, the official plan and the zoning by-laws, we're far exceeding them in certainly height, in density, and in everything else, so the question I'm constantly asked by residents is, 'what is the plan?'”

Chapman says that is in the works. She says city staff is working on new zoning options but, for the time being, every new proposal hitting the planning department's table is above and beyond what the current rules allow.

“It seems to me the way we're moving forward with development is that a proposal comes in and we look at it,” said Chapman. “And more often than not, there may be modifications along the way, but they seem to get approved.”

The councillor says she's also been hearing concerns about area traffic, parking, park space, and general livability.

“Where is the parkland and how are we going to accommodate this increase in population,” Chapman said. “And I think it's all very workable and possible but we need to see it, we need to see what that could look like.”

“And of course we want to see more commercial space and we want to see the businesses thrive,” she said. “So to bring more people into the downtown area is not a negative thing, it's how can we do it in such a way that we all know what the plan is.”