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Community Planning Permit System

Downtown Community Planning Permit System

We’ve completed a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) for Stone Road/Edinburgh Road and the Downtown. The Stone Road/Edinburgh Road has been in effect since Spring 2025. As of August 2026, the Downtown CPPS is now in effect.

Let us know your thoughts on the proposed affordable housing requirements for development Downtown!

The Downtown CPPS By-law provides flexibility in the development standards and requires affordable housing as a condition of most development. There are no current plans to further increase building heights in the Downtown as part of this project.

About the project

The City of Guelph is developing a Community Planning Permit System, also called a CPPS, for two areas of the city: the Downtown and Stone Road/Edinburgh Road. The Stone Road/Edinburgh Road portion of the CPPS is currently in effect. The CPPS is a land use planning tool that combines Zoning By-law Amendments, Minor Variances, and Site Plan applications into a single application and approval process. Watch this video to understand what a Community Planning Permit System is and how we are considering using it in Guelph.

This tool helps make the application and approval process more efficient, allowing housing to reach the market more quickly, and delivers other important elements to build thriving communities such as affordable housing and diverse housing types, public facilities, parks and open spaces as well as infrastructure improvements to support the growth.

The CPPS will be designed to create a streamlined development process and a more flexible set of development standards. The permit system is one of eight initiatives outlined in the Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan.

Please note: This project began in an older version of our website. Some of the tools and information may appear different than originally designed.

Who's Listening

Will Gregory

Will Gregory, Project Manager, City of Guelph

will.gregory@guelph.ca

Justine Giancola, Project Manager

Dillon Consulting Limited

jgiancola@dillon.ca

Kelly Guthrie

Kelly Guthrie, Community Engagement Advisor, City of Guelph

kelly.guthrie@guelph.ca


Phases

Phases overview
Phase 1: Stone and Edinburgh - Project initiation
Stone and Edinburgh - Project initiation
Phase 2: Stone and Edinburgh - Vision survey
Stone and Edinburgh - Vision survey
Phase 3: Map your feedback - Stone and Edinburgh
Map your feedback - Stone and Edinburgh
Phase 4: Stone and Edinburgh- Background review, issues, and opportunities
Stone and Edinburgh- Background review, issues, and opportunities
Phase 5: Stone and Edinburgh – Draft Official Plan Amendment and CPP By-law
Stone and Edinburgh – Draft Official Plan Amendment and CPP By-law
Phase 6: Stone and Edinburgh – Final Official Plan Amendment and CPP By-law
Stone and Edinburgh – Final Official Plan Amendment and CPP By-law
Phase 7: Stone and Edinburgh – Implementation
Stone and Edinburgh – Implementation
Phase 8: Downtown CPPS project initiation
Downtown CPPS project initiation
Phase 9: Downtown CPPS open house
Downtown CPPS open house
Phase 10: Downtown CPPS virtual open house
Downtown CPPS virtual open house
Phase 11: Downtown CPPS draft by-law, open house and statutory meeting
Downtown CPPS draft by-law, open house and statutory meeting
Phase 12: Draft CPP By-law and Official Plan Amendment
Draft CPP By-law and Official Plan Amendment
Phase 13: Final CPP By-law and OPA goes to Council
Final CPP By-law and OPA goes to Council
Phase 14: Implementation of CPPS
Implementation of CPPS

Implementation of CPPS

April 16, 2026 4:00 AM - April 17, 2027 4:00 AM

During this phase, the By-law implementation for the Downtown Community Planning Permit System will be ongoing.

Events

Past events