Royal City Rag, July 31 – An End Of Term Report From Mayor Karen Farbridge Part 1

Mayor Karen Farbridge

We were pleased to welcome Mayor Karen Farbridge to CFRU93.3fm‘s Royal City Rag on July 31. As part of our pre-election coverage, we have invited all of the current city council, including the mayor, to join us on the show for an end of term report. This is an opportunity for council to discuss the main issues they see facing the city, talk about the successes of the current term as well as their hopes for the future. It will also give us a chance to ask some questions of them.

As there was so much to talk about we were unable to cover as much ground as we hoped. Hopefully we’ll get the mayor back for another chat before the election campaign gets going in earnest.

This conversation focused on growth and its impact on municipal taxation, the Ontario government growth plan Places to Grow, Guelph’s Natural Heritage Strategy, the new tree bylaw and the protection of Guelph’s urban trees.

A great discussion. Definitely well worth checking out.

Keep sending all of your questions in. We’ll endevour to get all them all answered, one way or another, before the election campaign heats up. Questions can be sent to info@royalcityrag.ca.

Music:
Andy White, If You Want It from Songwriter
Stephen Fearing, The Longest Road from So Many Miles

Listen to the show:

Download (Right click and save)

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live, you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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Woods Site 1 Redevelopment Public Input Workshop – June 29

There is a follow-up session on the proposed condo development planned for the WC Woods site 1 at the Sacred Heart Gym,  98 Alice St. on Tuesday June 29 from 6.30 – 8.30 p.m.

In February 2010, Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund acquired the 9-acre site and is planning to redevelop the site with a mix of high-rise, mid-rise and townhouse residential units.

Downtown's Big Dreams... 16 Floor Condos on the WC Woods Site

The site is important to the City of Guelph as it supports its plan to revitalize the downtown area while still meeting the objectives of Ontario’s Places To Grow Smart Growth intensification initiatives. The site (in Ward 1) but now also included within Guelph’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area is eligible for various financial incentives to assist in its redevelopment.

Kilmer’s plans for the site will include brownfield remediation and site-planning before selling the site to a builder.

The City has recently stated that it will not finalise plans for the Downtown Secondary Plan until after the municipal election in October however it is still very important for community members to make their voices heard regarding the proposals for this site.

As the pace of change is likely to be rapid, it is important to have your say now.

Downtown/Woods Site 1 – Public Input Workshop
Defining the Principles of the Future Development
Sacred Heart Gym,  98 Alice St.
Tuesday June 29, 2010, 6.30 – 8.30 p.m.
(519) 837-5616 or downtownplan@guelph.ca

About the Downtown Secondary Plan
The City of Guelph is preparing a new Secondary Plan for downtown Guelph as shown on the map. The area is a provincially designated Urban Growth Centre and includes lands in the Ward neighbourhood. The Plan will govern residential and commercial development, natural and heritage conservation, and the city’s transportation and energy systems in downtown Guelph.

Check out the Downtown Secondary Plan FAQ HERE.

You can view all the components of the downtown secondary plan HERE.

For more information:
David de Groot, Urban Designer
Community Design and Development Services
T 519-837-5616 x 2358
E david.degroot@guelph.ca
guelph.ca/downtownplan

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Downtown Guelph, Planned Community Or No Go Zone? – April 27

The City of Guelph is inviting community members to attend an open house on April 27 to share ideas about how Downtown Guelph should grow and change.

The stated goal is to develop a community where people can live, work and enjoy the beauty and culture in the centre of the city.

The question will be whether that can possibly be a reality with the amount of growth the city and, in particular, the downtown will be expected to accept under the provincial growth plan, Places To Grow.

Few people in Guelph seem to understand how much growth the city is expected to absorb over the coming years. By 2031, under Places To Grow, Guelph’s population will grow from 105,000 to a staggering 165,000. Places to Grow mandates intensification within current limits which is why the downtown is particularly targeted for growth.

The city claims that this huge amount of growth will be sustainable. Unfortunately we will have to wait until the growth has taken place to know whether they were right or not.

As the pace of change is likely to be rapid, it is important to have your say now.

The Envision Guelph Downtown open house will focus, in particular, on the Ward neighbourhood east of Speed River as part of the City’s Downtown Secondary Plan. After a presentation participants will be invited to review and comment on the draft directions for the plan.

Tuesday, April 27
6.30-8.30 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)
Italian Canadian Club
135 Ferguson St.

About the Downtown Secondary Plan
The City of Guelph is preparing a new Secondary Plan for downtown Guelph as shown on the map. The area is a provincially designated Urban Growth Centre and includes lands in the Ward neighbourhood.

The Plan will govern residential and commercial development, natural and heritage conservation, and the city’s transportation and energy systems in downtown Guelph.

For more information:
David de Groot, Urban Designer
Community Design and Development Services
T 519-837-5616 x 2358
E david.degroot@guelph.ca
guelph.ca/downtownplan

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Guelph’s Official Plan Update, Bye Bye Guelph – Hello Mississauga!

There is a rather important Open House at City Hall on March 10 and 11.

Wondering why you should be there?

Take a look at the following. It’s taken from p8 of the City of Guelph Official Plan Update.

Urban Woodlands and Trees

• Encourages protection of plantations, hedgerows, and individual trees
• Requires compensation plantings or cash-in-lieu
• Highlights the need to protect Heritage Trees

Note that the plan will “encourage” protection of woodlands and individual trees.  There is also no mention of significant woodlands etc.  According to this update document,  the city will be able to give “cash in lieu” of tree protection which a very dangerous concept to introduce, especially at a time when the city is so strapped financially.

This update is also rather vague about how the city will protect the quality of life of existing residents when the massive infux of people from infill development occurs. Remember that under the provincial plan Places to Grow, Guelph is to grow from the current 105,000 to 165,000 people by 2031. A staggering increase in population.

This OP update appears designed to convince people that the city’s best interests are being taken care of.

A cynic would say that the way the document is written is to test the waters with respect to what will be allowable in the updated Official Plan –  a fishing expedition. They have thrown in concepts without fleshing them out so if people don’t attend the meetings the city can update the Official Plan to support as much growth as they can fit in.

Bye Bye Guelph – Hello Mississauga!

 
Guelph’s Official Plan Open Houses – March 10 and 11
6.30 – 9.30 p.m
City Hall, 1 Carden St.
Meeting room 112 

The City’s Official Plan provides direction for all types of development within the City; environmental and cultural heritage conservation, transportation planning, and other matters. The Plan incorporates the goals of the City’s Strategic Plan, Growth Management Strategy, Community Energy Plan, Natural Heritage Strategy and other policy documents that strive to create and maintain a beautiful, well-functioning and sustainable city. Community members are invited to one of two Open House events to review and discuss key directions for the City of Guelph’s Official Plan Update. Following a presentation, attendees are invited to ask questions and share comments.
Greg Atkinson, Policy Planner
519-837-5616 Ext. 2521
E greg.atkinson@guelph.ca

Can’t make the Open House? Don’t forget to make your voice heard. City Council needs to know we care about how much and how well our natural green space is protected.

Send your comments to greg.atkinson@guelph.ca. 

Download Guelph Official Plan Update March 2010 (pdf, 412 kb)

Download Draft Land Use Map (pdf, 3921 kb)

For more on this and other community issues, tune into Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm. Speaking Truth To Power.

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Learn More About The City Of Guelph’s Plans for Growth – Lots Of It!

Coming Soon To a City You Know And Love!

Perusing plans and chatting with planners may seem like a rather dry way to spend an evening in Guelph but it is rather important.  Especially so, if you love the city you currently call home.

Few people in Guelph seem to understand how much growth the city is expected to absorb over the coming years.

By 2031, under the provincial growth plan, Places To Grow, Guelph’s population will grow from 105,000 to a staggering 165,000. All these people will need somewhere to live, never mind work.

Places to Grow mandates intensification within current limits which is why the downtown is targeted for growth however people elsewhere in the city should not think they will be spared development and intensification.

The city claims that this huge amount of growth will be sustainable. Unfortunately we will have to wait until the growth has taken place to know whether they were right or not.

Fortunately growth will be an election issue this fall. In the meantime we’ll be doing our best to delve into exactly what it all means.

Downtown Growth – March 9
6 – 8.30 p.m.
City Hall, 1 Carden St.
Meeting Room C

The City is planning for more homes, businesses and jobs downtown. Downtown Guelph has been designated as one of the Province’s Urban Growth Centres, and the City’s Downtown Secondary Plan will provide a long-term vision for future development; incorporating the goals of Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horsehoe, Guelph’s Community Energy Plan, and the other recent planning studies. Learn more at  www.guelph.ca/downtownplan. 

Guelph’s Official Plan Update – March 10 and 11
6.30 – 9.30 p.m
City Hall, 1 Carden St.
Meeting room 112 

The City’s Official Plan provides direction for all types of development within the City; environmental and cultural heritage conservation, transportation planning, and other matters. The Plan incorporates the goals of the City’s Strategic Plan, Growth Management Strategy, Community Energy Plan, Natural Heritage Strategy and other policy documents that strive to create and maintain a beautiful, well-functioning and sustainable city. Community members are invited to one of two Open House events to review and discuss key directions for the City of Guelph’s Official Plan Update. Following a presentation, attendees are invited to ask questions and share comments.
Greg Atkinson, Policy Planner
519-837-5616 Ext. 2521
E greg.atkinson@guelph.ca

For more on this and other community issues, tune into Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm. Speaking Truth To Power.

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Growth Strategy For The South End Of Guelph – April 16

Think Guelph is growing too fast? Concerned about sprawl?

City councillors Leanne Piper and Karl Wettstein are hosting a public meeting with City of Guelph planners Paul Kraehling and Marion Plaunt to discuss Guelph’s proposed growth strategy. The meeting takes place on at Harcourt Memorial United Church on Thursday April 16 at 7.30 p.m.

The meeting will review how the city plans to update its Official Plan to conform with Ontario’s Places to Grow plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. It will also examine the implications of our local growth management strategy focusing particularly on growth of the city south of the Speed river.

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Downtown Community Improvement Plan Open House – May 22

This sounds pretty important for anyone interested in the health of our downtown. Especially, when we are comtemplating infill development to satisfy the needs of the province legislation, Places to Grow.

You may also want to re-read this piece.

These events are not unconnected.

One way or another the city has to get on board with the province’s recommendations even if we want to debate how much growth Guelph can cope with.

A good turnout from the community is essential.

 

Downtown Community Improvement Plan
Open House
Thursday, May 22, 2008 4 to 7 p.m.
City Hall, 59 Carden St, Council Committee Room C

Hear information and provide comments on plans to designate downtown Guelph as a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area.

The establishment of a Downtown CIP will assist with the implementation of community priorities as outlined in Guelph’s Strategic Plan, the Downtown Action Plan and Official Plan. A CIP would provide Council with the statutory authority to sell, lease or dispose of downtown lands and buildings acquired or held by the municipality for economic development reasons.

The plan would also give Council the ability to provide loans, grants and tax assistance to private owners to assist with rehabilitating lands and buildings.

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Places to Grow Youth Engagement Project 2008

As part of Ontario’s Places to Grow initiative, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal (MPIR) have been going out into the province to engage young people in planning charettes. Guelph was one of nine cities to be included in this project. 

Over the past three months, 15 high school students from Guelph have been meeting with a facilitator to come up with their own vision for our downtown, specifically the area bounded by Wellington, Wyndham and McDonnell . The students made use of aerial photographs, elevation drawings and scaled images to develop their ideas.

Mayor Karen Farbridge joined the group of young people, and representatives from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, at a press conference on Saturday to discuss downtown revitalization and how to design communities that allow people to work and play close to where they live. I was able to be there to interview Mayor Farbridge and the students for Royal City Rag.

Listen to the interview:

Although this project is somewhat self serving in that it allows MPIR to get out their message about the need for downtown intensification, I was particularly encouraged by the way the students took to their task. One thing is clear, they understand the need for planning for community, not the automobile.

 

As Places to Grow supports the development of complete communities where people can live work and play we really need to embrace it. We just need to make sure the end result the planners give us is what we as a community want.

Studies have shown that complete communities are better for human health and are more environmentally-friendly because they support walking, biking and transit use while reducing gridlock-related smog. 

Its great to see our young people thinking this way. There is hope for the future. Time will tell whether it really makes a difference in how our city is planned.

Wouldn’t it be great if the Ministry of Transport invited the youth to weigh in on what they think about the proposed improvements to the Hanlon Expressway?

 

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