Ontario Construction News staff writer
A recent partial settlement of an appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal is set to simplify housing construction in Guelph by clarifying numerous zoning rules related to the city’s comprehensive zoning bylaw.
This settlement addresses 57 provisions of the bylaw that were appealed, offering clearer guidelines on aspects such as building lengths, parking requirements, buffer zones, and bicycle parking.
City officials believe this decision will help speed up the approval process for various housing projects, including secondary suites, backyard homes, and larger apartment or condominium developments.
“Improving housing supply is a top priority for council,” Krista Walkey, the city’s general manager of planning and building services, said in a statement. “This decision provides more clarity around zoning rules and will help ease the process for those in our community who are looking to build more housing; whether that’s an in-law suite, a backyard home, or a new condo building.”
The Guelph council approved the comprehensive zoning bylaw in April 2023. However, it was later appealed by the Grand Highlands Homebuilders Association. While this settlement puts some parts of the bylaw into effect, several sections are still under a city-wide appeal along with five site-specific appeals that remain unresolved.
Municipal staff are actively working with property owners and builders’ associations to tackle these remaining issues.
Until all appeals are settled, development applications must follow both the old zoning bylaw and those sections of the new bylaw that have already come into force. The project for updating the comprehensive zoning bylaw started back in 2019 and received final approval from council in 2023. Implementation is still ongoing.
This ruling brings clarity to over half of the appealed regulations – totaling 57 – which will aid quicker responses regarding areas like:
building lengths parking rates buffer strips bicycle parking
“Improving housing supply is a top priority for Council,” said Krista Walkey, General Manager of Planning and Building Services. “This decision provides more clarity around zoning rules and will help ease the process for those in our community who are looking to build more housing; whether that’s an in-law suite, a backyard home, or a new condo building.”
To learn more, visit the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw webpage on guelph. ca.
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