Chapter 1Introduction

Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Review

Discussion PaperOctober 2019

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1.0 Introduction

1.1 What is a zoning bylaw?

A zoning bylaw is a series of rules for properties that tell us:

What the property can be used for How big the property can be

Where buildings can be placed on the property How tall, what size, and how many buildings can be built, and How many parking spaces are needed, and where the parking spaces can be

located.

Zoning bylaws are used to implement the vision for our City from Guelph’s Official

Plan. They provide a way for the City to manage land use and future development, and prevent conflicting land uses from being built or developed near each other.

Guelph’s zoning bylaw is a living document, meaning, it can and should be changed as the community’s needs change. Changes can be made to zoning bylaws through:

A comprehensive City-led review (like this one)

Periodic housekeeping amendments and individual City-led amendments forspecific land use categories, areas, or topics

A zoning bylaw amendment application from a property owner to permanentlychange the rules on their property, or

An application to the Committee of Adjustment to seek a minor temporary

change to allow, for example, a building addition to be built closer to theproperty line than the zoning bylaw allows.

1.2 Why and how is Guelph reviewing its zoning bylaw?

The City’s Official Plan was recently updated through Official Plan amendments 39, 42, and 48. The March 2018 consolidation is the full updated Official Plan. The

City’s Zoning Bylaw (1995) pre-dates the updated Official Plan and as a result, some aspects of it may not conform to the Official Plan. A comprehensive review of

the zoning bylaw is required to bring it into compliance with provincial legislation, ensure that it conforms to the Official Plan, and is reflective of current community and zoning trends.

In January 2019, Council endorsed a process for the comprehensive zoning bylaw review. This process includes five phases to be completed between 2019 and 2021:

Phase 1 – Project initiation Phase 2 – Research and analysis Phase 3 – First draft zoning bylaw and Official Plan amendment

Phase 4 – Final zoning bylaw, and Phase 5 – Implementation and appeals

This discussion paper is the key deliverable for Phase 2.

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1.3 What does Guelph’s comprehensive zoning Bylaw review include?

The comprehensive zoning bylaw review is a complete look at Guelph’s existing

zoning bylaw. The main purpose of the comprehensive zoning bylaw review is to create a new zoning bylaw that aligns with the City’s Official Plan. Additionally, a

new zoning bylaw for Guelph should be simplified, streamlined with fewer zones, broader categories of uses, and built form oriented. A new zoning bylaw should put rules in place so that the community and developers know what to expect as

neighbourhoods grow and change. Below is a summary of what is in the scope of the comprehensive zoning bylaw review and what is not.

In scope

Engagement with the community to determine what works well with the existingzoning bylaw and what should be improved

A discussion paper that includes a review of the Official Plan, the existing zoningbylaw, zoning trends, and options to consider in the development of a new

zoning bylaw Additional community engagement on the options and recommendations outlined

in the discussion paper, and eventually, the draft zoning bylaw and Official Plan

amendment Preparation of a new zoning bylaw and Official Plan amendment, should it be

determined through the process that an amendment is necessary, and Presentation of the new zoning bylaw and Official Plan amendment for Council

decision.

Out of scope

Exploration of matters that are not appropriately or legally allowed to be resolved

through zoning Requests to change land use or zoning on specific properties that are more

appropriately dealt with through private development applications, and A comprehensive review of downtown (“D”) zones.

1.4 How to read the discussion paper

The discussion paper is organized into chapters by topic. Each chapter examines relevant provincial legislation and policies including the Planning Act, Provincial

Policy Statement (2014) (PPS), and A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019). A draft update to the PPS was recently released by the Province. Because the updated PPS was not in effect at the time of writing of this

discussion paper, the in-effect PPS from 2014 was used.

The discussion paper reviews Guelph’s Official Plan as well as any relevant local or

provincial policies, regulations, or guidelines. Each chapter explores trends in zoning by reviewing relevant zoning bylaws selected through a set of criteria. Based on a review of policies and zoning trends, and in consideration of input gathered

through phase one community engagement, each chapter provides a series of options and preliminary recommendations for zoning related to that topic. The

discussion paper concludes with next steps for community engagement.