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Shaping Guelph: Official Plan Review

Official Plan Review

The City is working to review and update its Official Plan to conform to changes to Provincial legislation and policies by July 1, 2022.

Guelph’s Official Plan (OP) is a legal planning document that establishes a vision for the future of the municipality and provides policy direction to manage future land use patterns and growth. An OP covers:

  • How land can be used, whether it should be used for houses, industry, offices, commercial, parks, natural areas or a mix of uses;
  • What services, like roads, sewers, parks and schools are needed; and,
  • When, and in what order, parts of the municipality will grow.

Revisions to the Official Plan will ensure Guelph conforms and is consistent with:

  • Recent amendments to the Planning Act,
  • Recent amendments to the Clean Water Act,
  • The Provincial Policy Statement (2020), and
  • A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019).

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Who's Listening

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Jason Downham, Planner

Plan2051@guelph.ca

awaiting headshot

Melissa Aldunate, Manager, Policy Planning and Urban Design

Plan2051@guelph.ca

Phases

Phases overview
Special Council Meeting to Initiate the Official Plan Review
Conversations about proposed Official Plan policy directions
Conversations about proposed changes to the Official Plan
Final decision on changes to the Official Plan

Conversations about proposed Official Plan policy directions

March 15, 2021 - July 30, 2021

To initiate a five-year review of an Official Plan, the Planning Act requires a special meeting of Council, open to the public, be held to discuss OP revisions that may be required.

The Official Plan Review is occurring concurrently with Shaping Guelph. Shaping Guelph is exploring how and where Guelph can grow over the next 30 years to meet provincial forecasts and targets in a way that works for Guelph. The Official Plan review and Shaping Guelph will result in an Official Plan amendment(s) to ensure Official Plan conformity with provincial legislation and policies.

Virtual Workshop Discussion

Virtual workshops are happening on June 1 and 3 to discuss proposed policy directions for climate change and natural heritage systems and water resources in response to changes in planning related Provincial legislation, policies, and plans. The Official Plan review policy paper provides an overview of these Provincial changes and outlines proposed policy directions to consider as we update Guelph's Official Plan.

Here are some things to read and think about ahead of these workshops.

Online survey

Complete the online survey between June 1 and 27. Hard copies of the survey are available by calling 519-822-1260 extension 2459.

Call us during open office hours

  •  Tuesday, June 1 from 2-3 p.m. (Stacey Laughlin 519-822-1260 extension 2327)
  • Thursday, June 3 from 11 a.m.-noon (Natalie Goss 519-822-1260 extension 3548)
  • Tuesday, June 8 from 11 a.m.-noon (Natalie Goss 519-822-1260 extension 3548)
  • Thursday, June 10 from 2-3 p.m. (Stacey Laughlin 519-822-1260 extension 2327)
  • Tuesday, June 15 from 11 a.m.-noon (Natalie Goss 519-822-1260 extension 3548)
  • Thursday, June 17 from 2-3 p.m. (Stacey Laughlin 519-822-1260 extension 2327)
  • Tuesday, June 22 from 11 a.m.-noon (Natalie Goss 519-822-1260 extension 3548)
  • Thursday, June 24 from 2-3 p.m. (Stacey Laughlin 519-822-1260 extension 2327)
Official Plan Review - Policy Paper.pdf
(666.9 KB)
Policy Paper Engagement Summary Report.pdf
(846.5 KB)

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