This Week at Council: Big Nights for Big Projects

It was a packed night, or make that a couple of nights, at Guelph City Council. Two nights, two big planning projects, one in the south end and one in the east end. Both have been hotly anticipated (dreaded?), at least one for many, many years, and while one is still at least theoretical, the other is now moving on to the next phase of development. For all the details, let’s get right into this week’s recap of council business… Continue reading “This Week at Council: Big Nights for Big Projects”

RECAP: City Council Meeting for September 9, 2025

Plans are made, and plans are made to be approved. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along during the meeting on Blue Sky or recap the complete thread after the meeting below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “RECAP: City Council Meeting for September 9, 2025”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the September 9, 2025 Meeting?

The first planning meeting of the fall has an application for more units than have been approved all year so far, but will council be interested in chasing them given the cost? That will be one of the questions councillors will tackle in this meeting as they hold a statutory meeting on this massive new project. In terms of small moves, look out for an update to everyone’s favourite planning bylaw, and something that will be discussed in closed… Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the September 9, 2025 Meeting?”

This Week at Council: The Four Unit Problem

This month’s planning meeting of city council was all about four, and despite what you’ve heard it’s actually the loneliness number. That was the impression you might have gotten watching what happened when staff deliver their draft report about allowing fourplexes and four units as-of-right in Guelph. It looks like this policy might have an uphill climb, but staff have until June to make a case, in the meantime, here’s the recap…. Continue reading “This Week at Council: The Four Unit Problem”

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for April 9, 2024

Gentle density is the name of the game at this month’s planning meeting. You can click here for the amended agendas from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along on Twitter, or follow the tweets below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for April 9, 2024”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the April 9 Meeting?

For all those watching housing regulations in the city, and fans of discussions around city-wide changes to zoning, this planning meeting of city council is for you! Since last year, City of Guelph staff have been diligently exploring the question about whether we should allow four units as-of-right in the city. That question will get an answer, and speaking of answers, an new proposal will get its day in front of the horseshoe! Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the April 9 Meeting?”

This Week at Council: Planning, Tribunal and Encampments Form the Trifecta

There are busy weeks at council, and then there’s spending nearly half of a 28-hour period in the council chambers. That was the time frame this week at 1 Carden Street, and in that period there was a planning meeting, a meeting where council sat as tribunal on a matter of misapplied Development Charges, and, the big one, a marathon meeting about a Public Spaces Use bylaw. To see how it all turned out, consult this week’s recap below… Continue reading “This Week at Council: Planning, Tribunal and Encampments Form the Trifecta”

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for February 13, 2024

Let’s get into some planning matters. You can click here for the amended agendas from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along on Twitter, or follow the tweets below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for February 13, 2024”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the February 13 Meeting?

Planning matters return on schedule for the second Tuesday of February, and there’s going to be some unusual business for this planning meeting just to keep things interesting. Council will be asked to make some decisions regarding some recent applications, they will be asked to made a decision about a new Official Plan Amendment, and then they will make a decision to keep to a previous decision. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the February 13 Meeting?”

MEETING PREVIEW: Committee of Adjustment Meeting for February 8, 2024

Committee of Adjustment will get together again in February to tackle a fresh slate of minor zoning variance requests, about half of which will be familiar if you’re a fan of Committee of Adjustment business. As for the new business, think bigger! More space for a driveway, more floor space for an accessory building, and more floor space for a garage. Plus, there’s some administrative business involving a rules change!! Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Committee of Adjustment Meeting for February 8, 2024”