Council Planning · May 12, 2026 · Item 7.2
Staff to continue evaluating the feasibility of permitting five or more residential units with the approach presented on low density residential corner lots (RL.1 and RL.2)…
Main motion under the agenda item Exploring the Potential for Five Plus (5+) Units in Guelph, 2026-229
Defeated (6 to 7)
6 in favour, 7 against — one vote either way would have changed this
This was one of 4 motions on the same item
In the order council took them. A vote makes sense next to the ones around it.
- 1/4Main motionStaff to continue evaluating the feasibility of permitting five or more residential units with the approach presented on low density residential corner lots (RL.1 and RL.2)…you are hereDefeated (6 to 7)
- 2/4Main motionStaff to take no further action in regard to the five plus units project on low density residential lots, at this time…Carried (13 to 0)
- 3/4ReconsiderationFollowing resolution passed by City Council on May 12…Carried (13 to 0)
- 4/4DeferralDefer its decision and direct staff to continue to work collaboratively with the applicant to address the outstanding policy, technical…Carried (13 to 0)
What was voted on
The motion in its exact words, as recorded in the minutes.
That Council direct staff to continue evaluating the feasibility of permitting five or more residential units with the approach presented on low density residential corner lots (RL.1 and RL.2), and to undertake the following actions: That the review of five plus units exclude corner lots strictly at the intersection of arterial and collector roads; That the review of five plus units focus on corner lots that meet the criteria at the intersection of: arterial or collector and local roads; and, two local roads. Prepare draft Official Plan policies and a zoning by-law amendment, as necessary, to support the implementation of five or more residential units per lot; and Report back to Council in 2027 with findings, proposed policy directions, and recommended regulatory changes for consideration.
Moved by Councillor Goller, seconded by Councillor Gibson.
How the room voted
In favour (6)
- Chew
- Gibson
- Goller
- Guthrie
- Hauser
- Klassen
Against (7)
- Allt
- Billings
- Busuttil
- Caron
- Caton
- Downer
- Richardson
Who spoke to it
The following staff presented Exploring the Potential for Five Plus (5+) Units in Guelph, 2026-229: Emily Pitt, Planner I, Policy Planner Emily Irvine, Manager, Policy Planning and Urban Design The following delegates spoke: Dominica McPherson, Guelph & Wellington Poverty Elimination Collaborative
What council was given
The staff reports and correspondence attached to this item. The summaries are written automatically, so you can tell what a document is without opening a ninety-page PDF.
- Exploring the Potential for Five Plus (5+) Units in Guelph - 2026-229.pdf
Staff ask Council to keep studying whether five or more homes should be allowed on a single low-density corner lot, focusing on corners involving local roads and excluding corners of two busier arterial and collector roads. Draft Official Plan and zoning changes would be prepared and reported back in 2027. The work stems from Guelph's $21.4 million federal Housing Accelerator Fund agreement, which followed December 2024 approval of four units per lot.
- Attachment-1 Map of Corner Lots at Major Intersections with Potential Suitability for Five Plus Units.pdf
- Attachment-2 Map of all Corner Lots with Potential Suitability for Five Plus Units.pdf
- Attachment-3 Map of all Corner Lots with Potential Suitability for Five Plus Units Excluding at Major Intersections.pdf
- Attachment-4 Five Plus Units Council Presentation.pdf
- Correspondence - Dennis and Marlene Mortley.pdf
- Correspondence - John Lawson, OUNRA.pdf
A summary is this site’s description of a document, not the City’s. Open the document before relying on one.
The motion, the vote and the debate come from the City of Guelph’s published record, reproduced rather than interpreted. The document summaries above are the exception: those words were written for this site.