Kingston KROCK Centre - Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre (KRSEC) -- Large Venue Entertainment Centre (LVEC) Summary of the Planning of the Inner Harbour Area

Robert Mackenzie
May 2004

1. June 27, 1983. City Council adopted Official Plan Review Work Program recommended by the Planning Committee which identified the Inner Harbour as an area of concern.

2. July 11, 1983. City Council retained the firm of Totten, Simms, Hubicki to carry out the Kingston Waterfront Study and to prepare a B.I.L.D. Application..

3. December 13, 1983. City Council passed Interim Control By-Law No. 84-31 which was designed to limit permitted land uses in the Inner Harbour Area for a period of one year while a detailed Land Use Study was prepared.

4. December 20, 1983. The firm of Totten, Simms, Hubicki presented the Master Plan: Kingston's Waterfront to City Council at its regular meeting.

5. January 24, 1984. City Council passed a resolution which directed that the firm of Totten, Simms, Hubicki be retained to complete the Land Use Study, Place D' Armes to River Street (known as the Inner Harbour Study) which was then commenced under the general guidance of a Liaison Committee.

6. August 7, 1984 City Council passed By-Law 84-191 which amended Interim Control By-Law 84-31 to permit the approved development of Frontenac Village to proceed.

7. September 17, 1984. City of Kingston and Totten, Simms, Hubicki held a Public Open House at City Hall to present the draft Concept Plan and to invite public comment. The Concept Plan designated most private lands as medium density residential (50du/ha) and with bonusing up to 62.5 du/ha. Existing industries recognized and could continue. The now Frontenac Village Condominium lands and the now Anglin Parking lands were designated for high density residential (123 du/ha) including hotel use. The marina lands were indicated for waterfront industrial uses.

8. September 20, 1984. Harvey M. Rosen, acting for Rosen Fuels Limited writes letter to the Planning Department, City of Kingston stating that ... " The City's Administration is to be highly commended for the prudent course it has determined to follow in the redesignation of the lands involved and I am certain that the final result will be a credit both to the people directly involved in this effort and to the community as a whole".

9. November 20, 1984. The Consultant presented the final draft of the Land Use Study and draft Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments to City Council who referred the matter to the Planning Committee" for public input and a recommendation".

10. December 4, 1984. Council passed By-Law No. 84-292 which amended Interim Control By-Law 84-31 to extend the effective date for another six months to June 19, 1985.

11. January 9, 1985. Planning Committee held the Public Meeting regarding the draft Amendments.

12. January 23, 1985. Planning Committee discussed the Concept Plan, the draft Official Plan Amendment and the draft Zoning By-Law Amendment and its recommendation to City Council suggesting modifications. The major modification was to change the designation and zoning of the now Frontenac Village Condominium lands from high density to medium density and eliminate the hotel use as a Building Permit had been issued for an 88 unit townhouse condomiuium. Council made a similiar modification to the designation of the now Anglin Parking lands so that a similiar designation would apply across Anglin Bay from Frontenac Village Condominium. Council also provided that higher densities (not high density) might be considered in the context of specific development proposals.

13. February 5, 1985. City Council discussed the Planning Committee recommendations and adopted with further modification the Concept Plan with direction to staff to revise draft implementing amendments appropriately.

14. February 13, 1985. Planning Committee reviewed City Council changes to the Concept Plan and agreed to a second Public Meeting in view of the modifications.

15. March 27, 1985.   Planning Committee held a second Public Meeting pursuant to The Planning Act 1983 to present modifications to the Concept Plan and draft Amendments and to invite public comment.

16. April 10, 1985   Planning Committee revised the proposed modifications and the public response and recommended the revised Concept Plan and draft Official Plan Amendment No.32 and draft Zoning By-Law Amendment to City Council.

17. April 16, 1985. City Council reviewed the Planning Committee recommendation and adopted it as presented with a further change increasing the walkway width from 6 m to 9.5 m.

18. April 30, 1985. By-Law 85-109 adopting Official Plan Amendment No. 32 and Zoning By-Law Amendment No. 85-110 were given final reading and passed.

19. May 9, 1985. Official Plan Amendment No. 32 was submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval.

20. May 17, 1985. Letters of objection to Zoning By-Law 85-110 and copies of letters appealing the approval of Official Plan Amendment No. 32 were sent to the Minister received from Harvey M. Rosen on behalf of Rosen Fuels and Irving Rosen. The latter were in respect to properties located at the southeast corner of Rideau and Cataraqui Street and the other bounded by Cataraqui, Rideau and River Streets seeking to have the property designations and zoning changed from medium density to high density.

21. May 30, 1985. Letter of objection to Zoning By-Law 85-110 was received from G. Amell on behalf of Harold's Demolition respecting property at 6 Cataraqui Street and also an additional property at 12 Cataraqui Street. The appelants sought high density

22. June 3, 1985. Letter of objection to Zoning By-Law 85-110 was received from P. Milliken on behalf of S. Anglin Co. Ltd respecting the now Leeuwarden Condominium site.The appelant sought higher density.

23. June 19, 1985.   Interim Control By-Law No. 84-292 ceased to be in effect in accordance with the terms of the By-Law as provided for in Section 36 of The Planning Act 1983.

24. July 9, 1985.   City Council passed a resolution reaffirming its position with respect to Zoning By-Law Amendment 85-110.

25.September 10, 1985. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing granted approval to Official Plan Amendment No. 32 except to lands covered by the Rosen appeal.

26.September 16, 1985. The Minister of Municipal Affairs referred the request for appeal by Mr. Rosen to the Ontario Municipal Board for a hearing.

27. January 6, 1986.   Commencement of Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

28. January 30, 1986.   Ontario Municipal Board renders decision on the Official Plan Amendment No. 32 Appeal and Zoning By-Law Amendment 85-110. The OMB dismissed the Rosen appeal and noted that the Official Plan provided consideration of higher densities in the context of a specific development proposal. The other appeals relating to Zoning By-Law Amendment 85-110 were dismissed as the properties related to lands within the Official Plan Amendment No. 32 area which had already been approved by the Minister and there had been no Official Plan referrals.

29. May 1989.   The city considered requests for Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendment for the Harold's Demolition property at 6 Cataraqui street. The applications requested a modified high density zoning (maximum 123 du/ha) and designation to allow a 14 storey apartment building. City Council refused the application on the basis that the proposal was incompatible with the Inner Harbour Concept and with existing development west of Rideau Street. Further the proposal could set a precedent for further requests for high density.

30. March 1990. Anglin Bay Developments Inc. applies for Official Plan and Zoning amendments for a change from medium ( 50 du/ha) to high density (123 du/ha) and the development of two 16 storey towers on the now Leeuwarden Condominium site. Following discussions with Planning Department staff the proposal was subsequently amended and resubmitted