Chapter 13Other Existing Zones— Urban Reserve and Aggregate Extraction

Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Review

Discussion PaperOctober 2019

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13.0 Other existing zones – Urban Reserve and Aggregate Extraction

13.1 Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the planning policy framework (provincial and local) for the Urban Reserve and Aggregate Extraction zones within the city’s existing zoning bylaw. These zones are compared to relevant Official Plan policies and land uses to understand where changes are required to conform to these policies within a new zoning bylaw. Unlike other chapters, zoning bylaws in other municipalities are not reviewed in the chapter. The Official Plan provides specific direction for the use of an urban reserve zone, and the preliminary recommendation for the aggregate extraction zone did not require the review of other zoning bylaws. Preliminary recommendations are explored.

In this chapter we are seeking your thoughts on:

How best to use an urban reserve zone, or similar zone, to implement the Official Plan urban reserve policies and Urban Reserve land use designation.

Specific questions related to this topic can be found in section 13.5 as well as instructions for how to share your comments.

13.2 Current land use planning policies and zoning bylaw rules

Provincial policies

Provincial Policy Statement (2014)

The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) contains policies regarding the planning of urban areas, which include considerations for many things, such as providing for an appropriate range and mix of housing types and densities and efficiently using land and resources. The City’s Reserve Lands land use designation includes the City’s newest urban areas. The PPS does not provide direction on how urban areas should be zoned. It acknowledges that zoning bylaws are one important tool that should be used for implementation of the PPS.

A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019)

While A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan) does not provide specific direction to zoning bylaws, it references that zoning bylaws are important implementation tools to achieve the policies and density targets of the Growth Plan.

Guelph Official Plan

Urban Reserve policies

The Official Plan contains a specific policy that outlines the use of an urban reserve zone. It provides for an urban reserve zone, or other suitable zone, to apply to

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lands when there is insufficient information to determine a specific zoning category, such as lands designated Urban Reserve, or where the development of the lands is considered premature because of lack of adequate services. A description of the Urban Reserve land use designation is within Chapter 10.

Mineral aggregate operation land use designation

There are lands south of the Speed River, west of the Hanlon Expressway, and north of College Avenue in the city that are within the licensed area of an existing mineral aggregate operation. These lands are designated Reserve Lands in the Official Plan. There is no aggregate extraction land use within the Official Plan.

Guelph’s Zoning Bylaw

Urban Reserve zone

The existing zoning bylaw contains an urban reserve zone that applies to 168 properties either in whole or in part. This zone permits:

Agriculture Conservation areas Flood control facilities Outdoor sportsfield facilities Recreation trails, and Wildlife management areas.

Within the urban reserve zone there are rules for building setbacks, and the location of parking.

Aggregate Extraction zone

The existing zoning bylaw contains an aggregate extraction zone that applies to one property. This property is located on Stone Road East and is no longer used for aggregate operations. The aggregate extraction zone permits aggregate extraction operations and storage areas. It prohibits an aggregate transfer stations, and asphalt and concreate plants. Interim uses are also permitted where an aggregate extraction operation has not been developed. These interim uses include, but are not limited to, golf courses, conservation areas, and trails. Setbacks to buildings and aggregate storage areas are required, and buffer strips are required around the property.

13.3 Phase 1 community engagement – what we heard

As part of phase 1 community engagement there were no comments received about major utility uses, or rules. Appendix A contains a summary of all comments from the phase 1 community engagement, including staff responses.

13.4 Analysis, options, and recommendations

This section outlines preliminary recommendations for a new zoning bylaw about the existing urban reserve zone and aggregate extraction zone. The Official Plan was considered in the development of the preliminary recommendations.

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Urban reserve zone

Preliminary recommendation: It is recommended that an urban reserve zone be retained and that it apply to lands where additional planning work is required, such as the lands designated Reserve Lands in the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan area and the block plan areas of the Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan area. Additionally, it is recommended that an urban reserve zone apply to lands where servicing is not yet available, with the exception of lands designated high density residential. For recommendations for lands designated high density residential, please see chapter 4. An urban reserve zone is contemplated by the Official Plan which provides for its use for the above-motioned reasons. All lands that are currently zoned urban reserve will be reviewed to determine if the lands should remain zoned urban reserve or whether a zone that aligns with the Official Plan land use designations is now appropriate.

Aggregate extraction zone

Preliminary recommendation: As there is no aggregate extraction Official Plan land use designation, it is recommended that the aggregate extraction zone be deleted.

13.5 Questions for You

1. In consideration of the Official Plan policies for an urban reserve zone, do youagree or disagree with the preliminary recommendation for the use of an urbanreserve zone in a new zoning bylaw? Why or why not?

You can share your comments with us in person at an upcoming workshop in November 2019. A full listing of workshop events and information about how to register will be available on our website in early November 2019. As of November you can also share your comments online through our online engagement platform or via email.

2. What other comments do you have about the topics covered in this chapter?