Minutes of Guelph City Council

Tuesday, December 09, 2025 at 6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Council:

• Mayor C. Guthrie
• Councillor P. Allt
• Councillor C. Billings
• Councillor L. Caron
• Councillor E. Caton
• Councillor K. Chew
• Councillor C. Downer
• Councillor D. Gibson
• Councillor R. Goller
• Councillor K. Hauser
• Councillor M. Richardson

Absent:

• Councillor L. Busuttil
• Councillor C. Klassen

Staff:

• T. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• T. Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• S. O'Brien, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
• D. McMahon, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• K. Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services
• E. Irvine, Manager, Policy Planning and Urban Design
• C. Matthews, Manager, Community and Affordable Housing
• B. Manley, Planner I, Policy Planner
• L. Mollame, Project Manager, Policy Planning
• G. Brennan, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator
• J.T. McDonald, Board and Committee Coordinator

---

1.

Call to Order

Chair Caron called the meeting to order (6:00 p.m.).

1.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures. 

2.

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

2.1

Public Meeting and Decision Meeting - Affordable Housing CIP - ADU Grant Program Amendment - 2025-530

Brittany Manley, Planner I, Policy Planner, presented on Affordable Housing CIP - ADU Grant Program Amendment.

The following delegates spoke:
Eric Martin

Council recessed for call-in delegates. (6:31 p.m.). Council reconvened (6:33 p.m.). There were no call-in delegates.

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Mayor Guthrie
  1. That the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan – Additional Dwelling Unit Grant Program Amendment as described in Report 2025-530, in accordance with Attachment-1 be received;
  2. That the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan – Additional Dwelling Unit Grant Program Amendment as described in Report 2025-530, in accordance with Attachment-1 be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser

  Carried (11 to 0)

3.

Items for Discussion

3.1

Exploring the Potential for Five Plus (5+) Units in Guelph, 2025-567

Cushla Matthews, Manager, Community and Affordable Housing, and Emily Irvine, Manager, Policy Planning and Urban Design, presented on Exploring the Potential for Five Plus (5+) Units in Guelph.

The following delegates spoke:
Chris Bonnett

• Main Motion
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson
  1. That Council directs staff to continue evaluating the feasibility of permitting five or more residential units on low density residential lots (RL.1 and RL.2), and to undertake the following actions:
     1. Refine the criteria used to assess suitability for increased residential density;
     2. Prepare draft Official Plan policies and zoning by-law amendments, as necessary, to support the implementation of five or more residential units per lot; and
     3. Report back to Council in Q4 2026 with findings, proposed policy directions, and recommended regulatory changes for consideration.
• First Amendment to Main Motion
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Goller

  That clause 1 (a) of the main motion be amended to:

  1. Refine the criteria used to assess suitability for increased residential density that would only apply to corner lots that are adjacent to arterial and/or collector roads.

  Voting in Favour: (6)	Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
  Voting Against: (5)	Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, and Councillor Caton

  Carried (6 to 5)
• Second Amendment to Main Motion
  Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Mayor Guthrie

  That clause 1 (b) of the main motion, be removed.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser

  Carried (11 to 0)
• Main Motion, as Amended
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson
  1. That Council directs staff to continue evaluating the feasibility of permitting five or more residential units on low density residential lots (RL.1 and RL.2), and to undertake the following actions:
     1. Refine the criteria used to assess suitability for increased residential density that would only apply to corner lots that are adjacent to arterial and/or collector roads; and
     2. Report back to Council in Q4 2026 with findings, proposed policy directions, and recommended regulatory changes for consideration.

  Voting in Favour: (6)	Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser
  Voting Against: (5)	Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, and Councillor Caton

  Carried (6 to 5)

4.

By-laws

• Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson
  1. That by-laws (2025) – 21175, (2025) - 21178, (2025) - 21181 and (2025) - 21183, be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Chew, and Councillor Hauser

  Carried (11 to 0)

6.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Hauser
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That the meeting be adjourned (7:52 p.m.). 
  Carried