Stephen Robinson

The appellant appealed the City of Guelph's passage of a heritage designation by-law concerning a property containing a stone gate, farmhouse, and stone shed.

The parties reached a settlement to amend the by-law's schedules to facilitate the stabilization of the property and its potential integration into a heritage conservation district.

Based on uncontested expert heritage planning evidence, the Tribunal allowed the appeal in part and amended the by-law in accordance with the joint submission.

The applicant appealed the City of Guelph's refusal of an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a 19-storey mixed-use building with retail, office space, and 150 apartment units.

The City argued the site should be retained for a potential future major office and that the proposed height was incompatible with the historic downtown.

The Tribunal found that the mixed-use proposal satisfied legislative requirements and provided needed housing and office space.

However, the Tribunal reduced the maximum height to 16 storeys to better transition to the historic core and imposed a Holding provision until sanitary sewer capacity issues are addressed.

The appeals were allowed in part.