Former Kitchener Frame Property

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City settles for retail
October 17, 2013 |  Heather Abrey | Kitchener Post | LINK

The city has struck a deal that will see big box retail and a grocery store on the former Kitchener Frame property at 1011 and 1111 Homer Watson Blvd.

As part of the negotiated agreement, the 122-acre property is being carved into segments. Twenty-eight acres will be used for retail and commercial while

94 acres will be kept for industrial uses. Caps have been placed on the square footage that can be used for big box retail and a grocery store.

The previous zoning for the property allowed for uses like car dealerships, storage lockers and other businesses that take up a lot of space but provide little in the way of employment.

In exchange for the zoning and official plan amendment needed to build a grocery store and big box retail, the developer agreed to remove those low-employment uses from the zoning for the 94 acres of land that will stay industrial. From that industrial land, the ownership of 40 acres, currently being used as Budd Park, will be transferred to the city at no cost.

In 2012, the city was told it would have to vacate part of Budd Park in two years, which would have meant the loss of four soccer fields. The balance of the park, housing two more soccer fields and the tennis courts, was under a long-term lease until 2077, but the property owner was disputing the agreement in court.

The new deal means Budd Park will remain intact. Owning the land means the city also has the option of using it for industrial development in the future.

“I think in the end it was a win-win situation for everyone concerned,” said Ward 2 Coun. Berry Vrbanovic, who is also chair of the planning committee.

When the request to rezone the property first came before committee and council in 2012, several councillors, knowing that much of the plan didn’t require any permission from the city to go forward, advocated for a compromise.

“The position we’re at now is exactly what I was pushing for back, six, eight months ago, which the company, at that time, was prepared to do a lot of things for the city — to give a great deal,” said Ward 3 Coun. John Gazzola.

“The majority of council did not support that, and now they’ve done what I call a flip-flop.”
Gazzola believes that time and money was wasted on both sides. All parties had to pay legal fees, while the city racked up staff time and the developer had to pay for “high-priced planning consultants” Zelinka Priamo Ltd.

“It’s a good thing. Should have happened sooner,” he said.