A quick update, neighbour, on the progress of our Friends of Olde Berlin Town campaign in pursuit of a compatible, inclusive development of 22 Weber St W that permits existing neighbours to thrive and the Heritage District to endure.

On August 2nd, Heritage Kitchener (HK) voted in support of the staff recommendation to refuse the 22 Weber St W Heritage Permit Application on the basis of a lack of information.  Staff had requested but did not receive a final site plan of the developer.  When asked, the developer’s heritage consultant stated that there were no changes following the HK review of the Heritage Impact Assessment in March 2022.  One HK member stated that, since none of the ten concerns expressed at the HK March 2022 meeting, including angular plane analysis, built form, height, massing, scale, setback, shadowing, transition, streetscape impact, and use of the ground plane were addressed, he could not see how committee support could be expected to change.  Staff explained that they did not comment on the compliance of the application with the Heritage District Plan to avoid jeopardizing the evidence they will deliver at the Tribunal hearing.  You can watch the recorded meeting here.

Informed by the Staff Report and HK’s recommendation, Kitchener City Council will vote on the Heritage Permit Application on August 22^nd.  The public is welcome to submit comments to and book oral presentations (virtual or in-person) before Council via delegation@kitchener.ca.  Equipped with the City’s decision on the Heritage Permit Application, the Ontario Land Tribunal will then rule on the developer’s appeal for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments.  The developer has already announced that, if necessary, they will appeal the City’s refusal of their Heritage Permit Application and ask the Tribunal to combine the two appeals at the hearing scheduled for March 2023. The August 22^nd Council meeting may well be our only opportunity to directly address our City decision-makers on this application.

Please

1. Submit a comment to Council. You can (update and) re-send any previously sent letters or participant statements.  The email addresses are available on our ‘Resources’ page. 
2. Book your (virtual or in-person) delegation before Council via this link.
3. Request a lawn sign (or a replacement sign if yours has been damaged or gone missing).
4. Help us collect more signatures on our petition from adults throughout the Region.

Further information is available at our campaign website, www.obtfriends.ca.  We welcome your questions and comments at obtfriends@gmail.com.

Please share this message widely.  We are succeeding together.