The first Guelph City Council meeting of 2024 is a planning meeting, and it will be a largely procedural affair. If you’re wondering about what the new Development Charges are going to look like in the spring, or if you’re wondering about the fate of a specific project on Bristol Street, or if you’ve just been hankering for some council action after a very long winter’s break, check out what’s on this agenda!.
NOTE #1: Delegates will be able to appear at this meeting in-person or via tele-presense but you do have to register with the clerks office before 10 am on Friday January 11.. You can also submit written delegations and correspondences for agenda items.
NOTE #2: In addition to meeting in-person, this meeting will also be live-streamed on the City of Guelph’s website here.
Decision Report 151 Bristol Street Zoning Bylaw Amendment File OZS23-012 Ward 3 – This proposal came to council back in November, and despite some of the concerns raised about the planned density for the property, staff are recommending that it get council approval to proceed.
Development Charge Background Study and By-Law Adoption – There have been some small changes since this was initially brought forward for council feedback in October. The most notable change is that the new DC has shaved off six per cent from the original proposed rate and is now $69,300 for a single or semi-detached residential unit instead of $64,813; the rate also been changed from $27.44 per square foot for a non-residential development to $25.78 .
The new bylaw also includes some clarity about what is, and is not, purpose-built rental housing so that the new rental housing discounts from the provincial government can be properly applied, and staff will be adding a Development Charge reserve fund for long-term care specifically. Once approved, the new DCs will go into effect on March 2.
Correction to October 17, 2023 City Council Planning Minutes – There was a rare boo-boo in the minutes from the October 17 planning meeting where it was not noted that Councillor Phil Allt had voted against approving the proposed development for the old Royal Brock site on Gordon Street. (Obviously, Guelph Politico noted it.)
Guelph Politico 