Minutes of Guelph City Council

-
Council Chambers
Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street
Council:
  • Mayor C. Guthrie
  • Councillor P. Allt
  • Councillor C. Billings
  • Councillor L. Busuttil
  • Councillor L. Caron
  • Councillor E. Caton
  • Councillor K. Chew
  • Councillor C. Downer
  • Councillor R. Goller
  • Councillor K. Hauser
  • Councillor C. Klassen
  • Councillor M. Richardson
Absent:
  • Councillor D. Gibson
Staff:
  • T. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
  • T. Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
  • S. O'Brien, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
  • J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
  • K. Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services
  • C. DeVriendt, Manager, Development Planning
  • C. Matthews, Manager, Community and Affordable Housing
  • K. Ghadge, Project Manager, Planning
  • L. Mollame, Project Manager, Policy Planning
  • L. Sulatycki, Planner III, Senior Planner
  • G. Meades, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy City Clerk
  • G. Brennan, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator

1.
Call to Order

 

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (9:32 a.m.)

2.
Authority to move into closed session

 
  • Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hauser
    1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to The Municipal Act, to consider:

    Council Education Session: Land Use Planning and Legal Considerations

    As per Section 239(3.1) (1) of the Municipal Act, regarding a meeting held for the purpose of educating or training the members.

    Voting in Favour: (10)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (10 to 0)

    The following items were considered:


2.1
Call to Order (closed meeting)

 

2.2
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

 

2.3
Council Education Session: Land Use Planning and Legal Considerations

 

3.
Closed Meeting Summary

 

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (10:17 a.m.). Mayor Guthrie noted Council will return to closed session to finish discussion regarding the Council Education Session: Land Use Planning and Legal Considerations.

4.
Open Meeting - 10:00 a.m.

 

4.4
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

 

Councillor Caron declared a conflict of interest regarding item 5.1 225 Waterloo Ave - Notice of Intention to Designate - 2026-18, noting that the owners were members of their family. 

5.
Council Consent Agenda

 

5.1
225 Waterloo Ave - Notice of Intention to Designate - 2026-18

This item has attachments. 
1.225 Waterloo Ave - Notice of Intention to Designate - 2026-18.pdf
2.Attachment-1 Ontario Regulation 9-06 Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.pdf

Councillor Caron left the meeting and did not participate in debate or discussion on this item.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings
    1. That the City Clerk be authorized to publish and serve notice of intention to designate 225 Waterloo Avenue pursuant to Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.
    2. That the designation by-law be brought before Council for approval if no objections are received within the thirty-day objection period.
    Voting in Favour: (11)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (11 to 0)

5.2
35 Foster Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate - 2026-62

This item has attachments. 
1.35 Foster Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate - 2026-62.pdf
2.Attachment-1 Ontario Regulation 9-06 Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest(1).pdf
  • Moved ByCouncillor Caron
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allt
    1. That the City Clerk be authorized to publish and serve notice of intention to designate 35 Foster Avenue pursuant to Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.
    2. That the designation by-law be brought before Council for approval if no objections are received within the thirty-day objection period.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (12 to 0)

6.
Public Meeting to Hear Applications Under Sections 17, 34 and 51 of The Planning Act

 

6.1
Public Meeting for Proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for 70 Fountain Street E, 2026-91

This item has attachments. 
1.Public Meeting-70 Fountain OPAZBA File OZS26-001 - 2026-91.pdf
2.Correspondence - Claire Braden, GCAT Advocacy Committee(1).pdf
3.Delegate Presentation - Christian Tsimenidis, Fitzrovia Residential Inc.pdf
4.Attachment 1 - Location Map and 120 metre Circulation.pdf
5.Attachment 2 - Aerial Photograph.pdf
6.Attachment 3 - Existing Official Plan Designation.pdf
7.Attachment 4 - Proposed Official Plan Designation.pdf
8.Attachment 5 - Existing Zoning.pdf
9.Attachment 6 - Proposed Zoning.pdf
10.Attachment 7 - Conceptual Site Plan.pdf
11.Attachment 8 - Conceptual Rendering of the Proposed Development.pdf
12.Attachment 9 - Public Meeting Staff Presentation.pdf
13.Correspondence - Paul Barson.pdf
14.Correspondence - Erika Weltzien, Wellington Standard Condominium Corporation 235.pdf
15.Delegate Presentation - Christian Tsimenidis, Fitzrovia Residential In.pdf
16.Correspondence - Claire Braden, GCAT Advocacy Committee(2).pdf
17.Correspondence - Lori Pagnan.pdf
18.Correspondence - Neil Mazey, Canada Post.pdf

Kanchan Ghadge, Project Manager, Planning presented regarding the Public Meeting for Proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for 70 Fountain Street E, 2026-91.

The following delegates spoke:
Chris Van Der Water, Greg Gilbert, Renata Shamsutdinova, and Christian Tsimenidis, Fitzrovia Residential Inc.
Paul Barson
Anthony Veder, Dlr Vintage

Council recessed for additional delegates (11:05 a.m.). Council reconvened (11:08 a.m.).

The following delegate spoke:
Derek Melo

  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Klassen
    1. That the Statutory Public Meeting Report for the applications received from UP Consulting, on behalf of Fitzrovia Residential Inc. for an Official Plan Amendment to retain the existing ‘Mixed Use 1’ designation while deleting Subsection 11.1.7.3.9.1 in its entirety, and a Zoning By-law Amendment to rezone the subject lands from D.1-27(H28) to a new site-specific D.1-XX zone together with lifting the holding symbol (H28) to permit a 24-storey, mixed-use building containing 440 square metres of ground-floor retail, 5 stacked townhouse units, and 419 purpose-built rental dwelling units at 70 Fountain Street East, from Infrastructure, Development and Environment dated March 10, 2026 be received.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (12 to 0)

    Council recessed (11:21 a.m.). Council reconvened (11:30 a.m.).


6.2
Public Meeting for Proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for 328 Victoria Rd S and 588 Stone Rd E, 2026-86

This item has attachments. 
1.Public Meeting Report 328 Victoria Rd S and 588 Stone Rd E Proposed OPA and ZBA File OZS26-002 - 2026-86.pdf
2.Attachment-1 Location Map and 120 metre Circulation.pdf
3.Attachment-2 Aerial Photograph.pdf
4.Attachment-3 Existing Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan Land Use Designations and Policies.pdf
5.Attachment-4 Proposed Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan Land Use Designations and Proposed Official Plan Amendment.pdf
6.Attachment-5 Existing Zoning, Zoning By-law (2023)-20790.pdf
7.Attachment-6 Proposed Zoning, Zoning By-law (2023)-20790.pdf
8.Attachment-7 Approved Block Plan Guelph Innovation District Block Plan Areas 1 and 2.pdf
9.Attachment-8 Staff Presentation for Public Meeting.pdf
10.Correspondence - Emmett Vanson, Six Nations of the Grand River.pdf
11.Delegate Presentation - Meg Thorburn, Guelph Trail User-groups Coalition.pdf
12.Delegate Presentation - Dave Aston, MHBC.pdf
13.Correspondence - Claire Braden, GCAT Advocacy Committee.pdf
14.Correspondence - Mike Darmon, GCAT Advocacy Committee.pdf

Lindsay Sulatycki, Planner III, Senior Planner, presented regarding the Public Meeting for Proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for 328 Victoria Rd S and 588 Stone Rd E, 2026-86.

The following delegates spoke:
Dave Aston, MHBC and Fusion Homes
Meg Thorburn, Guelph Trail User-groups Coalition

Council recessed for additional delegates (11:58 a.m.). Council reconvened (12:00 p.m.).

There were no additional delegations.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Billings
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hauser
    1. That the Statutory Public Meeting Report regarding proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications submitted by MHBC Planning Limited, on behalf of the owner, Fusion Homes, to facilitate the subdivision of the lands into: residential blocks, mixed-use commercial blocks, a school block, employment blocks, stormwater management pond blocks, significant natural area and natural areas blocks, and public parks and open space blocks on lands municipally known as 328 Victoria Road South and 588 Stone Road East and legally described as Part of Broken Front Lots 10, 11 and 12, Concession 1, Division ‘G’, (Geographic Township of Guelph), City of Guelph, from Infrastructure, Development and Environment dated March 10, 2026 be received.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (12 to 0)

7.
Items for Discussion

 

7.1
Housing in Guelph 2025 Report, 2026-74

This item has attachments. 
1.Housing in Guelph 2025 Report - 2026-74.pdf
2.Attachment-1 Housing in Guelph 2025 Report Presentation.pdf
3.Attachment-2 Housing in Guelph 2025 Infographic.pdf

The following staff presented the Housing in Guelph 2025 Report, 2026-74:
Tara Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
Terry Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
Krista Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services
Cushla Matthews, Manager, Community and Affordable Housing

  • First Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Downer
    1. That the Housing in Guelph 2025 Report 2026-74, dated March 10, 2026 be received.
    Voting in Favour: (10)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (10 to 0)
  • Second Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Caron
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allt
    1. That the Mayor of Guelph and our Intergovernmental staff write a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to respectfully request a 2 year moratorium to legislative changes to the Ontario Planning Act, specifically related to regulations that affect municipal land use planning resources, staffing, and responsiveness to change.
    2. And that the letter be copied to the Premier of Ontario, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Big City Mayors, and Mike Schreiner, Member of Provincial Parliament.

    This motion was withdrawn by the mover and seconder.


  • Third Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron
    1. That staff be directed to explore next steps to re-establish the Brownfield Community Improvement Plan and to report back to Council in early 2027.
    Voting in Favour: (10)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (10 to 0)

8.
By-laws

 
  • By-laws
    Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Downer
    1. That by-laws (2026) - 21213, (2026) - 21219, (2026) - 21221, (2026) - 21222 and (2026) - 21224 be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.
    Voting in Favour: (10)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (10 to 0)

9.
Authority to move into closed session

 
  • Moved ByCouncillor Hauser
    Seconded ByCouncillor Klassen
    1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to The Municipal Act, to consider:

    Council Education Session: Land Use Planning and Legal Considerations

    As per Section 239(3.1) (1) of the Municipal Act, regarding a meeting held for the purpose of educating or training the members.

    Voting in Favour: (10)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Hauser
    Carried (10 to 0)

10.
Closed Meeting Summary

 

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (1:48 p.m.). Mayor Guthrie noted the following:

Council Education Session: Land Use Planning and Legal Considerations

Council received information and participated in the education session.

11.
Adjournment

 
  • Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hauser
    1. That the meeting be adjourned (1:48 p.m.).
    Carried
No Item Selected