Share Downtown Height Study on FacebookShare Downtown Height Study on TwitterShare Downtown Height Study on LinkedinEmail Downtown Height Study link
Over 400 people shared their thoughts online and dozens more came out in person last December. Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful feedback!
Our team is busy reviewing each and every comment and response. We are turning things around quickly! We'll share the proposed Official plan amendments on January 21and be back on February 4 from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall. Drop in to learn learn about the recommendations we will bring forward for consideration.
Here We Grow!
In response to the need to meet our new population density target of 200 people and jobs per hectare in the downtown by 2051, we must revisit the current maximum building heights for Downtown as set out by the Downtown Secondary Plan (2015). This study aims to understand where and how new, taller buildings can be permitted in the downtown and what design considerations will be required.
We've been exploring the answers to some simple questions with complicated impacts:
What is tall in the context of Downtown Guelph?
Should the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate influence the height limits in Downtown Guelph?
What are the positive or negative impacts of additional building height in different locations throughout Downtown?
We will use answers to these questions from the community, combined with information from experts in the field and best practices from other communities to make necessary amendments to the Official Plan and create updates to the downtown built form standards.
Share how you want to grow your downtown
Online
The draft Official Plan amendments will be shared online on January 21 for your feedback. We want to hear from you before Feb 16 before we finalize the plan.
In person
Come out to the Statutory open house scheduled for February 4 at City Hall (1 Carden Street, Guelph). Drop in any time between 6 and 8 p.m. to learn about the recommendations and speak with the project team.
At Council
February 11 is the Statutory Public Meeting with Council during the Council Planning meeting at 4 p.m. The agenda and full report will be posted on the Council Calendar on January 30. The community is invited to speak or send in comments to council. Learn how on our website and register no later than 10.a.m. on Friday February 7.
No decisions will be made at council at this time. Staff will review all comments from this engagement period before developing recommendations for council decision at a future meeting.
Contact us for more information or to share your thoughts with the project team directly.
Brenna Mackinnon, Project Manager, Policy Planning Planning and Building Services 519-822-1260 extension 4153 brenna.mackinnon@guelph.ca
Stacey Laughlin, Downtown Revitalization Advisor Economic Development and Tourism 519.822.1260 extension 2327 stacey.laughlin@guelph.ca
Over 400 people shared their thoughts online and dozens more came out in person last December. Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful feedback!
Our team is busy reviewing each and every comment and response. We are turning things around quickly! We'll share the proposed Official plan amendments on January 21and be back on February 4 from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall. Drop in to learn learn about the recommendations we will bring forward for consideration.
Here We Grow!
In response to the need to meet our new population density target of 200 people and jobs per hectare in the downtown by 2051, we must revisit the current maximum building heights for Downtown as set out by the Downtown Secondary Plan (2015). This study aims to understand where and how new, taller buildings can be permitted in the downtown and what design considerations will be required.
We've been exploring the answers to some simple questions with complicated impacts:
What is tall in the context of Downtown Guelph?
Should the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate influence the height limits in Downtown Guelph?
What are the positive or negative impacts of additional building height in different locations throughout Downtown?
We will use answers to these questions from the community, combined with information from experts in the field and best practices from other communities to make necessary amendments to the Official Plan and create updates to the downtown built form standards.
Share how you want to grow your downtown
Online
The draft Official Plan amendments will be shared online on January 21 for your feedback. We want to hear from you before Feb 16 before we finalize the plan.
In person
Come out to the Statutory open house scheduled for February 4 at City Hall (1 Carden Street, Guelph). Drop in any time between 6 and 8 p.m. to learn about the recommendations and speak with the project team.
At Council
February 11 is the Statutory Public Meeting with Council during the Council Planning meeting at 4 p.m. The agenda and full report will be posted on the Council Calendar on January 30. The community is invited to speak or send in comments to council. Learn how on our website and register no later than 10.a.m. on Friday February 7.
No decisions will be made at council at this time. Staff will review all comments from this engagement period before developing recommendations for council decision at a future meeting.
Contact us for more information or to share your thoughts with the project team directly.
Brenna Mackinnon, Project Manager, Policy Planning Planning and Building Services 519-822-1260 extension 4153 brenna.mackinnon@guelph.ca
Stacey Laughlin, Downtown Revitalization Advisor Economic Development and Tourism 519.822.1260 extension 2327 stacey.laughlin@guelph.ca
In December 2023, City Council directed staff to undertake a study to approve additional heights in the Downtown Area. Currently, the maximum height of buildings in Downtown has been influenced by the topography (i.e., the height of the ground in different areas), with taller buildings generally built at lower elevations. This study will explore which areas of the Downtown can support greater building heights. Design standards for tall buildings across the city will also be developed.
The City has an ambitious goal of almost doubling our Downtown density to accommodate 200 people and jobs per hectare by 2051 (currently 109 people and jobs per hectare). Beyond ensuring that Downtown can functionally manage the added height and density through infrastructure studies, we are also looking at what taller buildings will feel like in our Downtown and how they will impact the people in Guelph.
Please take five to ten minutes to share your thoughts on which areas may be appropriate for taller buildings and what design guidance those taller buildings may need so Downtown can still feel like the Guelph you love today.
Share Tell us a TALL tale on FacebookShare Tell us a TALL tale on TwitterShare Tell us a TALL tale on LinkedinEmail Tell us a TALL tale link
Page last updated: 17 Jan 2025, 06:47 AM
Follow Project
Stay informed
Subscribe for project updates
Lifecycle
Identifying opportunities for taller buildings
Downtown Height Study has finished this stage
Between December 9 and January 19, we want to hear from you to help inform where taller buildings may be permitted in the downtown and what building standards are necessary to make that extra height feel right.
Under Review
Downtown Height Study is currently at this stage
We will review your feedback and share what we heard in the first round of engagement early in 2025. These findings will be combined with research, best practices and other consultations to develop proposed changes to where and how taller buildings may be permitted in Guelph.
Share your comments on the draft revised official plan and built form standards
this is an upcoming stage for Downtown Height Study
We'll be back to share amendment content for the Official Plan starting January 21, 2025. We will seek your thoughts, comments and questions again, and our team will be out at City Hall on February 4 to share the revisions in person. Drop in between 6 to 8 p.m.
On February 11, the proposed amendments will be brought in front of Council for comment at a special public meeting as well.
Final report
this is an upcoming stage for Downtown Height Study
We will share back what we heard and and let you know when the final drafts will go to Council in the late spring or early summer 2025.
