Townhouse units fronting onto Marianne’s Park and the Speed River on the east side of Gordon Street across from Royal City Park goes to city council for approval Monday.
Following discussion about the proposed development last year at two previous city council meetings and one community meeting, city staff are recommending that council grant the zoning change and Official Plan amendment sought by the developer.
The city’s planning staff are satisfied the proposed development on one of the city’s many “brownfield” sites is consistent with provincial policies, including the Places to Grow legislation that identifies Guelph as a growth area, says a staff report.
Staff are recommending that council approve an Official Plan amendment reducing the required setback to the edge of the river. This would permit a cluster townhouse development to be built at 180 Gordon St. even though its northeast corner wouldn’t meet the Official Plan’s requirement for a 30-metre setback from the river edge, the report says.
Structures such as retaining walls are to be set back at least 22.5 metres, and buildings are to be set back at least 24.5 metres from the river edge, it says.
Opponents of the development have questioned several things about it, including what they see as a potential conflict between the proposed residential use and the cultural importance of adjacent Marianne’s Park, which commemorates a woman killed by her spouse.
“Rooftop patio areas are proposed as the required private amenity areas” for the 11 townhouses, the report says.
The developer also plans a total of 17 parking spaces, with 11 of them located in a carport structure along the southerly lot line.
Staff are recommending that a hold be put on the development until it can be certified that contamination cleanup on the site meets Ministry of the Environment requirements for residential use.