Report titled “Downtown Renewal: Status Update” dated June 6, 2023 be received.

6:02:13So just to start, many of us have our own sort of

6:02:15personal view of what downtown might be

6:02:18or what that boundary is.

6:02:19But for the purpose of downtown renewal

6:02:21and most of the work that we do,

6:02:23our boundary is consistent with the downtown secondary plan.

6:02:26So as you can see on the map,

6:02:27it goes northeerly to London Road,

6:02:29then follows along the Speed River,

6:02:31running sort of east to here on street down to Alice.

6:02:35Then it sort of zigzags down to York Road.

6:02:37And the westerly boundary is Dublin Street.

6:02:40So that gives us all sort of that same base understanding

6:02:43of what our downtown boundary is for the programs

6:02:46and things that we're talking about.

6:02:52So as I'm sure council hears many, many times,

6:02:55it is important that all of our,

6:02:57the projects that comprise downtown renewal

6:02:59be guided by other strategies and plans

6:03:01that have been approved by council.

6:03:05Downtown renewal considers the strategic direction

6:03:07and priorities and objectives of many corporate plans,

6:03:11but we'd like to highlight the city's strategic plan,

6:03:14the community plan, the city's official plan,

6:03:16including the downtown secondary plan

6:03:19and the recent updates to the OP

6:03:21through the province's approval of OPA 80.

6:03:24The downtown streetscape manual, master plans,

6:03:27including the transportation master plan

6:03:29and our water related master plans.

6:03:32The economic development and tourism strategy action plans,

6:03:35including the urban design action plan

6:03:37and the cultural heritage action plan,

6:03:39as well as transit's future ready action plan.

6:03:42With respect to the official plan,

6:03:44council is aware that when the province approved OPA 80,

6:03:48they may change this to the policies,

6:03:50many of those that apply to the downtown.

6:03:53Most notably the maximum building height

6:03:56has been modified to permit 23 stories

6:03:58in many areas of downtown.

6:04:01Along with that, we will be reviewing

6:04:03the special policy area,

6:04:04and that area runs along Wellington Street and the river

6:04:07to look at future development opportunities

6:04:10in that corridor.

6:04:12We don't see radical changes in the work scoped out

6:04:15for our downtown projects coming from the OPA 80 changes.

6:04:19However, there will be elements that we need to reconsider.

6:04:23All the project teams that work on the projects

6:04:25under that downtown renewal umbrella

6:04:28will continue to work with planning staff

6:04:30to understand the provincial amendments

6:04:32and the potential implications more fully.

6:04:35So we do know that from a financial perspective,

6:04:37the OPA 80 changes are generally considered favorable

6:04:40as higher density translates to a higher net revenue

6:04:44positioning as better to fund the planned investment.

6:04:53So what is downtown renewal?

6:04:55So the city's downtown renewal efforts encompass

6:04:58a number of projects that are underway or upcoming.

6:05:01These projects are interrelated

6:05:03and staff are working to ensure

6:05:05that there is a synergy between projects

6:05:07and that they are all advancing towards a shared goal

6:05:10of a healthy, vibrant and beautiful downtown for generations.

6:05:15Over the past decade,

6:05:16the city's efforts to revitalize the Guelphs downtown

6:05:19have been met with great success.

6:05:21We have renewed places and open spaces in our downtown core

6:05:24and attracted new businesses and residents

6:05:27to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19

6:05:30felt by downtown businesses, residents and visitors.

6:05:33We launched new programs, such as the seasonal patio program

6:05:37and initiatives to support economic recovery.

6:05:40Today, our downtown remains an appealing destination

6:05:43contributing to the economic vitality of the city.

6:05:47Additionally, significant effort has gone into preparing

6:05:50the city to undertake a generational renewal

6:05:52of municipal downtown infrastructure.

6:05:55Some of this work includes the downtown secondary plan,

6:05:58the downtown zoning bylaw, our servicing study,

6:06:02the downtown streetscape manual

6:06:04and various master plans and studies.

6:06:09So to build on the past efforts

6:06:10and deliver on the compelling vision

6:06:12set through the downtown secondary plan,

6:06:14the city is making significant investments

6:06:16in infrastructure, redevelopment, transportation,

6:06:20programs and initiatives over the next 10 plus years.

6:06:24These investments are fueling several projects

6:06:26that are currently underway.

6:06:28The overall downtown renewal efforts

6:06:30will transform how downtown looks, feels and functions,

6:06:34making it future ready to support growth to 2051 and beyond.

6:06:39We are working toward a common goal

6:06:40of renewing and revitalizing downtown,

6:06:43resulting in it being a beautiful, safe and accessible place

6:06:48for people to live, work, play and visit.

6:06:51Today we're gonna focus on downtown infrastructure,

6:06:55but other projects that are underway

6:06:56include the Baker District Redevelopment,

6:06:59including the library, the seasonal patio program,

6:07:02including an upcoming decision for council

6:07:06on considering a permanent program,

6:07:08the downtown parking master plan update,

6:07:11the downtown waste project,

6:07:13the ward to downtown pedestrian bridge,

6:07:16the community improvement plan update,

6:07:19which is citywide,

6:07:20but will definitely have impacts relevant to downtown,

6:07:24the upcoming Heritage Conservation District study,

6:07:27as well as other upcoming projects,

6:07:29including finding a final user for the drill hall building,

6:07:32a new transit terminal building,

6:07:34and a future downtown riverfront park

6:07:36at Wellington and Gordon.

6:07:38So as I mentioned earlier,

6:07:40the projects under the overarching downtown renewal program

6:07:43are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

6:07:45And therefore a critical component of the work

6:07:48involves ensuring that there is that synergy

6:07:50between those projects

6:07:51and that they are all advancing cohesively

6:07:54towards that shared vision of a transformed

6:07:57and revitalized downtown.

6:07:58In order to ensure this happens,

6:08:00we have created an internal working group,

6:08:03known as the Downtown Coordination Group,

6:08:05to strategically coordinate all activities

6:08:07and enhance communication and collaboration.

6:08:12So with all of that background,

6:08:15it leads me to a point where I can say that

6:08:17this is a very, very exciting time for downtown wealth.

6:08:21The recent completion of the master plans within the city,

6:08:24together with the need to replace,

6:08:25upgrade and modernize our infrastructure,

6:08:28and the recent amendments

6:08:29to the city's downtown secondary plan,

6:08:31including those made by the province,

6:08:33create an opportunity for transformational change

6:08:37in our downtown.

6:08:39We have a rare opportunity to examine