Category: Growth

Attached below are my delegation notes for this evening’s meeting. I am here this evening to speak to the issue of the planned 18-storey condo tower at 148 Macdonell, on behalf of the Guelph Civic League. Since the day it became public knowledge that an 18-storey tower was planned for the Downtown, there has been […]

With regard to this precent setting development coming to council this monday, I want to suggest that in order to help envision the true impact of this 20 storey(including utility floors) structure on the downtown, as you come and go over the next few days, find the co-operators builing on the skyline and imagine another […]

I am writing to you today to voice my concerns about the 148-152 Macdonell Street Proposed Official Plan Amendment & Zoning By-law Amendment (Files OP1104 & ZC1114) in Ward. I hope that you as a Councillor and community members like myself still have a chance to stop certain irreversible decisions with regards to the skyscraper […]

There’s been a lot newsprint recently regarding the building of the 18 story building at the corner of Macdonell and Woolwich. The city can have their cake and eat it too. By encouraging development downtown, the developers has purchased and have plans for numerous downtown buldings. Now, all counsel has to do is adhere to […]

The follwing editorial appeared in the May 3 edition of the Guelph Tribune. Ever since the Liberal government at Queen’s Park came up with its Places to Grow legislation a few years ago, there has been local concern about how the province’s demand for major population growth in the already built-up areas of Guelph can […]

The following article appeared in the May 3 edition of the Guelph Tribune. City council has overwhelmingly approved a new downtown plan that paves the way for highrises as tall as 18 storeys and that was described by one councillor as “a real game changer.” Only councillors Gloria Kovach and Bob Bell dissented as council […]

The following article appeared in the May 2 edition of the Guelph Mercury: The business community likes it. Local developers like it. Even a prominent environmentalist and members of a local residents’ association – formed largely in opposition to it – have given it a tentative stamp of approval. “When you take a look at that combination … that’s […]

The GCL strongly agrees with the goal of increasing intensity in downtown Guelph, both to meet Places to Grow targets and to ensure the health of the city core by getting more people living downtown. The GCL also strongly agrees with the concept of mixed-use development, particularly with street-level commercial frontage. However, the GCL believes […]

I am writing to express my concern and dismay at the prospect of constructing several 12 plus story buildings in the Guelph downtown area. I have many times tried to contemplate a building twice the height of the Co-operators building and cannot understand or fathom why anyone would think that this is esthetically a good […]

I am writing because I have deep concerns about the height allowances proposed in the Downtown Secondary Plan. While I support the intensification of residences, the building heights proposed are completely unaligned with the current ‘feel’ of the city of Guelph. I think the height of the buildings should be voted upon as a separate […]