WATERLOO — Plans for Maxwell’s Music House to move to new digs on University Avenue are now in limbo because a developer is appealing the project at the Ontario Municipal Board.

The popular concert venue is currently located at 220 King St. N., but was given a rezoning approval by Waterloo city council in June for 35 University Ave. E.

Glen Stocco of Lexington Park Real Estate Capital Inc. is appealing the rezoning, municipal board documents indicate, based on concerns about parking.

Paul Maxwell, owner of the concert venue, said a fall opening is now out the window.

“Realistically we will not be open to the public, at the earliest, until April,” Maxwell said.

The business can’t relocate until the municipal board — which deals with land planning disputes — deals with the appeal.

The City of Waterloo plans to challenge the appeal and approved about $20,000 for legal costs to do so at a Monday meeting.

“We’re supporting our original position,” Coun. Scott Witmer said.

In the appeal filed with the municipal board, the challengers say the city’s bylaw requiring five parking spaces per 100 square metres of floor area is insufficient.

“Notwithstanding that (Maxwell’s) proposes to use additional parking at the property, the appellant remains concerned that this surplus parking will be inadequate for events where parking demands exceed what can be provided at the property,” the appeal reads.

Maxwell said detailed parking studies were done and a thorough site plan proposing 237 parking spaces — well above the city’s bylaw requirement.

He said meetings were held with Lexington Park representatives and no compromise could be reached on the parking concerns.

The appellant also raises concerns about apparent contamination on the property. The Region of Waterloo noted the property as a known contaminated site but waived a requirement for a record of site condition as part of Maxwell’s rezoning application, according to a city report.

Stocco and his representative, Adam Zasada of Robson Carpenter LLP, could not be reached.

No date has been set for the municipal board hearings.

pdemond@therecord.com

KITCHENER — This city’s focus on live music and technology as key drivers of economic growth received a major boost yesterday when a national study was released here touting the broad-ranging benefits of music education for the digital economy.

The Information and Communications Technology Council released the study, called Music — A Catalyst for Technology Hubs and Innovative Talent, in the high-tech heart of this region, The Tannery in downtown Kitchener.

Jeff Leiper, the council’s vice-president and head of research, said the report is informed by interviews with about two dozen high-tech workers, more interviews with two dozen high-tech firms and a careful review of the findings from many other reports and studies.

Leiper said the research strongly suggests that a good music education in childhood leads to creative thinking, critical thinking, better social skills for collaborating with others, higher marks in English, higher marks in math, improved memory, better motor skills, boosts self-esteem and stimulates both halves of the brain — the analytical and artistic sides — better than anything else.

Leiper said the research also shows a strong association between lively music scenes and technology clusters.

“Jurisdictions around North America, including Kitchener in Ontario and Austin in Texas, make vibrant music scenes an explicit part of their economic development pitches to tech companies,” says the report.

The study makes five recommendations — provincial governments need to invest more in music education in schools, curriculum must identify the connections between music and technology, parents need to be informed about the benefits of music education, all levels of government need to improve the quality and diversity of cultural industries to help develop economies, and a national organization is needed to collect information on the benefits of a music education for technology workers.

The council is a not-for-profit that does research, policy development and talent solutions for the digital economy.

“Every parent in the country should be getting this message,” Leiper said. “Every teacher in the country should be getting this message.”

Leiper said the council wanted to release the study in Kitchener because the city links live music with economic diversification.

“We know that Kitchener is trying to diversify its economy beyond manufacturing, we know that it wants to build a strong tech cluster,” Leiper said in an interview. “And they have very explicitly said: ‘Music is a way to help us do that.’ That’s exciting.”