Shaping Guelph: Official Plan Review

About the Shaping Guelph project 

In October 2019, we began a municipal comprehensive review of Guelph’s Official Plan to conform to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This project is known as Shaping Guelph. Here is what we’ve done so far: 

• Based on community input, developed a draft vision and principles to guide Guelph’s growth for the next 30 years 
• Had community conversations about: 
• where and how to house Guelph’s growing population 
• one possible way for Guelph to grow and what other growth options should be explored, and 
• Guelph’s employment lands supply and future needs 
• Explored growth scenarios; and 
• Presented the growth management strategy to City Council. 

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send us your comments, questions or feedback to plan2051@guelph.ca 

The official plan amendment for the Shaping Guelph Official Plan Review is available for review and comment.

This Official Plan Amendment (OPA 80) proposes to revise the Official Plan’s vision, urban structure, population and employment figures, density and intensification targets and associated policies and land use designations as part of the City’s municipal comprehensive review for conformity with A Place to Grow: The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This amendment also revises the Official Plan for conformity and consistency with:

• Recent amendments to the Planning Act
• Recent amendments to the Clean Water Act, and
• The Provincial Policy Statement (2020).

Amendments to improve clarity for implementation or to address city approved plans, procedures or Council decisions are also included along with housekeeping changes related to such things as, for example, names of provincial ministries, to update municipal address references or to correct policy numbering references. OPA 80 also includes revisions to implement the recommendations of the York/Elizabeth Land Use study.

The virtual Open House provides an informal opportunity to learn about the proposed amendment and to ask questions of City Staff.

Policy Paper Engagement Summary Report

Throughout the course of this year, the City has undertaken several engagement opportunities to obtain feedback on the Official Plan Review Policy Paper. A summary of this engagement and what we heard is available here.