Downtown Building Heights Study and Built Forms Standards for Tall Buildings

Council Approved Downtown Building Heights Official Plan Amendment (OPA 106)

Purpose of study

In December 2023, City Council directed staff to undertake a study to approve additional heights in the Downtown area of Guelph. The maximum building heights permitted are set out by the Downtown Secondary Plan. When the Downtown Secondary Plan was approved by Council in 2012, the permitted heights were influenced by topography, with taller buildings being permitted at lower elevations.

This study is being undertaken in two phases. The first phase is an Official Plan Amendment to identify areas of the Downtown where the permitted building height can be increased to help meet the population density target of 200 people and jobs per hectare (Downtown) by 2051 as set out in the Official Plan. The second phase is to develop Built Form Standards for tall buildings that will apply city-wide.

Phase 1:  On April 8, 2025 City Council approved the Official Plan Amendment (OPA 106) that will allow taller buildings in the Downtown Secondary Plan Area. Council’s decision has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal so is not yet in force and effect.

Phase 2: Over the remainder of 2025, the project team will be working on developing Built Form Standards for tall buildings and engaging with the community on these standards.

Current Building Height Permissions in Downtown Guelph

New Building Height Permissions in Downtown Guelph

Background

Among other things, the Downtown Heights study was looking to answer the following questions:

• What is tall in the context of Downtown Guelph?
• Should the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate influence the height limits in Downtown Guelph?
• What are the positive or negative impacts of additional building height in different locations throughout Downtown?

Project outcomes

• Updated Official Plan policies and building height permissions
• New Built Form Standards for tall buildings that apply city-wide

Community engagement

In 2024, the Downtown Building Heights Study was presented for community engagement at a Downtown Renewal open house on December 9, 2024, and a special meeting of Council was held on December 10, 2024, regarding the Study.

Earlier this year, we collected feedback on the draft amendment before it was refined to bring in front of Council on April 8 for decision.

Visit haveyoursay.guelph.ca/downtown-heights for more information and to view the Official Plan Amendment (OPA).

Project milestones

• Project Initiation (August – December 2024)
• Background Review, identify issues and opportunities (October 2024 – January 2025)
• Official Plan Amendment (January – April 2025)
• Built Form Standards for Tall Buildings (May-December 2025)

For more information