City files: OP1603/ZC1612
At the Statutory Public Meeting for the Downtown Zoning Bylaw Amendment on September 12, 2016, Council passed the following motions:
- That staff be directed to bring forward the portion of the Downtown Zoning Bylaw related to 75 Dublin Street North to a November 2016 council meeting for a decision, in order to facilitate the required April 2017 building permit timing of the investment in affordable housing grant and that a public process be provided.
- That staff be directed to initiate a site specific Official Plan Amendment for 75 Dublin Street North in order to facilitate the investment in Affordable Housing Grant.
The property owner of 75 Dublin Street North is proposing to develop the property into a 5-storey, 35 unit apartment building that would include 20 affordable units for seniors. The property owner has requested that the process to review the proposal be fast tracked to meet the timing constraints of the Investment in Affordable Housing funding program offered by the federal government.
A Council meeting to discuss this proposal was held on October 17, 2016 and included delegations from community members and stakeholders. This meeting was the Statutory Public Meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act for both the Official Plan Amendment and the Zoning Bylaw Amendment for this property.
Council considered the staff recommendation report as well as public delegations about the proposed zoning for this site at the November 28, 2016 Council meeting.
Staff recommendation
Staff recommend refusal of the Official Plan Amendment to permit a maximum building height of 5 storeys for 75 Dublin Street North.
Staff recommend approval of a Zoning Bylaw Amendment from the I.1 (Institutional) Zone to a modified D.2-9 (Downtown) Zone that will:
- Allow a four story apartment building instead of a five storey building.
- Set the front and exterior side yard setback at 3m, side yard setback at 4.5m, rear yard setback at 3m to the first two storeys, and require building stepbacks facing the street and the rear yard.
- Prohibit any overlook from an outdoor space, such as rooftop areas or terraces, to the north of the building, which might overlook Central Public School.
- Set the maximum average storey height at 3.2m.
As suggested at the public meeting, City staff also explored opportunities for a land swap that would allow the proposed apartment building including affordable housing to be built in another part of Guelph; however no parcel of land currently meets the property owner’s criteria.
Detailed staff recommendations are found in the November 28, 2016 staff report.
Council decision
Staff recommendations and public delegations were considered by City Council on November 28 and 30, 2016.
On November 30, 2016, Council members voted to:
- Refuse a maximum building height of 5 storeys for 75 Dublin Street North. Permitting a 4-storey development instead.
- Approve a Zoning Bylaw Amendment from the I.1 (Institutional) Zone to a modified D.2-9 (Downtown) Zone, as per the staff recommendation.
Public notices
The following notices were distributed to the public and interested stakeholders:
Notice of the passing of a zoning bylaw (December 1, 2016)Notice of decision with respect to proposed amendment to Official Plan (December 13, 2016)
Under appeal
Four appeals were submitted to the City of Guelph and the Ontario Municipal Board to appeal the decisions made by Guelph City Council on November 28 and 30.
Upper Grand District School Board appeal (December 19, 2016) Rykur Holdings Inc. appeal 34 (19) (December 20, 2016) Rykur Holdings Inc. appeal 22(7) (December 20, 2016)Guelph Old City Resident’s Association Inc. appeal (December 20, 2016)
Hearing dates for this matter will be set by the Ontario Municipal Board.
A pre-hearing date has been set for August 14, 2017.
Background
Initial proposal and supporting materials
The following materials were submitted by the property owner is support of their proposal for the property:
- Planning Justification Report prepared by Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants, dated September 21, 2016
- Shadow Study prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc., dated September 2016
- Detailed Shadow Study prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc., dated October 17, 2016
- Site Concept Plan prepared by Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants, dated September 19, 2016
- Draft Official Plan Amendment
- Draft Zoning By-law Amendment
- Preliminary Site Servicing and Stormwater Management Letter prepared by GM BluePlan, dated September 22, 2016
- Preliminary Site Grading and Site Servicing Plan prepared by GM BluePlan, dated September 27, 2016
- Preliminary Conceptual Building Rendering prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc., dated October 5, 2016
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment prepared by Chung & Vander Doelen Engineering LTD., dated October 4, 2016
- Preliminary Conceptual Building Elevations prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc., dated October 12, 2016
- Transportation Impact Study, Parking Study and Bicycle Study Report prepared by Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited, dated October 14, 2016
- Cultural Heritage Resource Impact Assessment prepared by CHC Limited, dated October 19, 2016
Revised proposal and supporting materials – October 24, 2016
The following information was submitted on October 24, 2016 as part of a revised development proposal:
- 2016-10-24 Cover Letter from Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants
- 2016-10-24 Revised Concept Plan prepared by Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants
- 2016-10-24 Revised Elevation Drawing prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc.
- 2016-10-31 Revised Drawings (Site Plan, Elevations, Floor Plans, Building Sections)
- 2016-10-24 Views of Proposal from Central Public School yard and Intersection of Norfolk/Paisley/Quebec Streets
- 2016-11-01 Additional views of proposal from Central Public School yard and from Norfolk Street
- 2016-10-24 Revised Zoning Compliance Chart prepared by Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants
- 2016-10-24 Revised Cultural Heritage Resource Impact Assessment prepared by CHC Limited
- 2016-10-25 Pedestrian Wind Assessment prepared by RWDI Inc.
- 2016-10-24 Proposed Floor Plans prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc.
- 2016-10-24 Community Energy Initiative Letter, prepared by Rykur Holdings Inc.
- 2016-10-24 Proposed revisions to the on-street parking configuration on Dublin Street North, prepared by Astrid J. Clos Planning Consultants
- 2016-10-26 Environmental Site Assessment Summary Letter, prepared by Chung & Vander Doelen Engineering Ltd.
- 2016-10-28 Revised Shadow Study, prepared by James Fryett Architect Inc.
For more information
Stacey Laughlin, Senior Policy Planner
Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
Planning and Building Services
519-822-1260 extension 2327
[email protected]