
Herbicide spraying along Spur Line Trail

The target audience for this program is high school aged youth. But they have opened it up to any community member interested in the topic. For more information click on the link:
https://seeds.ca/schoolfoodgardens/
Google Build
Perimeter is hoping to start cleaning up the side streets (Wellington and Moore) this spring and are hoping for completion around the end of June but the timing will depend on the weather.
By the way, here is a video of the artwork installation from a few weeks back. Click here.
Electrohome Site
The house at 134 Shanley will be demolished and the excavation of both sites (134 and 152) and the installation of shoring and foundation walls will begin early April and last three or four months. Above grade construction will begin following this and will last for 18 to 24 months. Some of the murals have been removed by the artists and others may find new homes, included alleys. Watch out around the area!
On February 7, 2022 there was a meeting of the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee. Staff brought forward a recommendation on the 134-152 Shanley Street development in favour of the zoning changes requested by the developer. There were only two delegations who spoke and the proposals were approved unanimously by councillors. Although a vote at a regular council meeting is still required, this effectively allows Shannondale to begin the process of removing contamination so construction can begin.
152 Shanley has been written about many times on this Blog and searching that address will display all posts. For those interested in the Staff package, which includes comments by residents, click on this link.
The main part of the February 7th meeting was taken over by the proposed development in Belmont Village where many delegations were signed up to present. In fact, a second evening was set aside to hear all the delegations. The Record has reported on this development here and here.
Looking ahead:
March 7th at 6 pm
Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee
Kitchener.ca/meetings – no need to pre-register
On the agenda are the following re-zoning/official plan amendments
Crozby:
How many times have you heard people say “I didn’t know that was permitted” in my residential neighbourhood? The City is proceeding with the implementation of stage 2b of the Crozby review (rezoning changes). Here is an overview of the changes: (would apply to infills in Mt. Hope)
Re Crozby – these changes (2b) were part of the original Crozby recommendation/ changes from December 2019 where Council passed 2a and deferred 2b. The PSIC meeting on March 9th is a special meeting to formalize the re-zoning on residential zones – none of the items (3 units/minimum lot/driveway/height) should be a surprise. Council increased the allowable height from 10.5 metres to 11 metres – in our neighbourhood the typical 2 storey with an attic is 10 metres. So, infill houses, where they tear down and rebuild can be 11 metres … not significant but it will make them higher than the surrounding houses. So, on March 9th, PSIC will approve them – they will go to Council a couple of weeks later and then be implemented on the bylaws for residential units.
Tuesday, February 22n
4 pm to 7 pm via zoom (staff presentation at 4 pm)
Open House to learn more about these changes
RSVP at crozby@kitchener.ca
Wednesday, March 9th at 6 pm
Planning and Strategic Committee Meeting to approve the zoning changes
Kitchener.ca/watch now – no need to pre-register
The inaugural meeting of the 2022 MHBPNA Development Committee was held on January 6th at 7 pm via Zoom and included a review of some of the issues we have addressed throughout 2021.
The MHBPNA AGM was held on ZOOM on Sunday, November 7. Several members of our community attended in addition to our city councillor Sarah Marsh and Niall Lobley, Director of Parks & Cemeteries, City of Kitchener.
The meeting was chaired by Kate Pearce who also took notes (thanks so much!)
Councillor Marsh provided us with an update on City of Kitchener activities, the Breithaupt Centre (temporarily closed for maintenance) and the city budget process.
Niall Lobley, Director of Parks & Cemeteries, City of Kitchener spoke about his role and talked about the city’s strategy regarding parkland. Naill was very passionate about his work and the importance of parkland. There were many questions so we had a very engaged discussion for almost an hour. The city’s key initiative right now is the Places and Spaces review. This will have an important role going forward and everyone is invited to fill out their thoughts on the “Engage” poll here:
https://www.engagewr.ca/placesandspaces
We will be publishing more about that strategy and review on our Blog in the future.
Catherine Owens is chair of the MHBPNA Development Committee and talked about its activity over the past year. The committee has engaged with the City of Kitchener, various developers and many citizens to highlight and organize our concerns about “all things development” in our area.
For an overview of the committee and some of the work they have done, please see our website: http://www.mhbpna.org/development-committee/
Kate Pearce talked about our engagement with the Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance (DNA) which meets regularly and would like input on programming (ideas, activities, leaders).
A Year in Review was provided by Kate and Ted Parkinson.
These pandemic times have stopped many of our typical activities like the soccer program and the Duke St. West Music Fest.
– Photo contest. We had several entries and some winners were given $25 gift cards for neighbourhood food businesses. We will be using the photos for our Blog and elsewhere
–Play Music on Your Porch Day. MHBPNA advertised this event on our Facebook page and website and we have a blog article about it here: http://www.mhbpna.org/2021/09/14/international-play-music-on-a-porch-day-2021/
Financial update: We still have plenty of money in the bank for small events like our “mini grant” program. In fact, our Mini Grant program is ongoing and you can read about it here:
Board Of Directors
We had people move on and new folks join our board. As a reminder, anyone living in the MHBP area is welcome to attend any of our meetings and we post them on Facebook and our website.
Our current board is:
Ted Parkinson (Communications)
Emily Slofstra (Treasurer)
Members: Erin Nespoli, Jörg Broschek, Linda Vandenakker, Katie Lefler, Kimberley Gauld and Levi Oakey.
If you have any ideas about what we could be doing, please contact us at mhbpna@gmail.com
If you have ideas we can publicize what you are doing and can even supply a “mini grant” to help you buy food and/or supplies.
It was here on August 28. We played music, sang, friends and neighbours dropped by. It was fun. Let’s do it again next year!
THE SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY
2:30 – 4
21 Braun St. Jackie, Wayne, Edward (originals, good vibes)
2:30 – 4
463 Duke St. West, Ted (some jazz, some cover songs, some originals)
7 pm onwards
Dekay St @ Peltz, Edward and friends
NEWS FLASH!
MHBPNA is looking forward to Saturday, Aug 28th. If you are in our neighbourhood, let us put your event on the schedule. And on Saturday, take a photo of a performance and send it to mhbpna@gmail.com, we will give you a $25 gift card from a local food business. Music and Food!
Saturday, August 28 is international Play Music on a Porch Day!
It’s simple: get out an instrument, or some friends to sing along, and play some music!
MHBPNA is going to make a schedule of everyone playing in our neighbourhood! We will post it on our website and advertise where the good times will be taking place.
If you would like to participate, please contact us. Our email is mhbpna@gmail.com or send us a message on our Facebook page.