City of Guelph - Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan

A decision was made on April 11, 2023, to approve, with eighteen (18) modifications, Official Plan Amendment 80 to the City of Guelph Official Plan adopted pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law (2022)-20731. Notice of this Decision was issued on April 11, 2023 to the City of Guelph.

The adopted Official Plan Amendment was reviewed for consistency and conformity with provincial policies and plans and regard for matters of provincial interests set out in the Planning Act.

The eighteen (18) modifications to the Official Plan Amendment have been made to address provincial policy direction related to housing supply, the Ontario Land Tribunal, planning roles and responsibilities, the Agri-food Network, definitions, among other matters.

Official Plan Amendment 80 implements the policies of A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, as well as the provisions of the Planning Act and Clean Water Act, across the City. Official Plan Amendment 80 revises the vision, urban structure, population and employment figures, density and intensification targets, and associated policies and land use designations of the City of Guelph Official Plan. Official Plan Amendment 80 also decreases the city's minimum intensification target from 50 percent to 46 percent and increases its population forecast from 203,000 to 208,000 to accommodate the future development of lands that were restructured to the City's jurisdiction on January 1, 2022.

Pursuant to subsections 17 (36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and not subject to appeal. Accordingly, the Official Plan Amendment, as approved with modifications by the Minister, came into effect on April 12, 2023.

The policies and mapping changes of Official Plan Amendment 80 apply to all land within the City of Guelph.