A special meeting for a very special topic. You’ve probably heard about the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan, you may have even taken part one of the numerous planning meetings on the subject over the last seven years, or maybe you just have a thought about growth or protecting the environment. Whatever your thoughts and concerns about Clair-Maltby, you’re going to want to take your last chance to share them on May 16.
NOTE #1: Delegates will be able to appear at this meeting via telephone, but you do have to register with the clerks office before 10 am on Friday May 13. You can also submit written delegations and correspondences for agenda items.
NOTE #2: The meeting will be the open to the public, but if you would like to follow it from home, you will still be live-stream the meeting on the City of Guelph’s website here.
Decision Report for the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan and MESP (OPA79) – Years and years of work have culminated in this report, the final decision for Clair-Maltby, which, as you know, is the largest, undeveloped greenfield space left inside the borders of Guelph. This plan must balance a pressing need for more available housing plus general concerns about over-density and environmental protection in an area that’s sitting on some of the most sensitive property in Ontario, the Paris Galt Moraine.
So how did we do? Since the draft Official Plan Amendment came out last September there have been some slight adjustments. You will note that Road G, which used to run from Matlby Road to the Rolling Hills area in the east end of the development area, now ceases at Street E and doesn’t enter Rolling Hills. The finished plan also sorts out the responsibility for preparing the management plan for Halls Pond, which has been placed on the shoulders of the Landowner Group.
For the most part though, the plan remains the same as presented last fall. There are no changes to the proposed community park or moraine ribbon, there are also no changes to the range of density offered in the plan, or along the Gordon Street corridor. There are also some assurances that the cost of growth in the Clair-Maltby area is not going to break the proverbial bank with a lot of costs coming in beyond 2041, and the low(er) cost of developing greenfields compared to intensification areas. The OPA for Clair-Maltby will also be referred to the Development Charges (DCs) study for further examination.
If approved by council, the amendment will go into effect once it clears any appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and there’s a good chance that it might take years to resolve any appeal. Council will also be asked to approve the Clair-Maltby Master Environmental Servicing Plan, and to refer the financial implications to both the multi-year budget process and the DCs Background Study.
Guelph Politico 