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International food company could bring hundreds of jobs to Guelph

NewCold Advanced Cold Storage seeks permission to build in south end

A large, cold storage food facility could be on the way to the city’s south end, creating hundreds of local jobs.

International firm NewCold Advanced Cold Storage Logistics, which has facilities throughout Europe, the United States and Australia, is looking to add Guelph to its list of locations.

It’s currently seeking zoning amendments from the city’s committee of adjustment and intends to apply for site plan approval from the city’s planning department soon thereafter.

“The requested minor variances would facilitate NewCold’s first entry into the Canadian market, and would further contribute to Guelph’s concentration of agri-innovation research and technology expertise, and related infrastructure,” states the company’s letter to the committee of adjustment.

“The ultimate build out for the site will include five large manufacturing and warehousing buildings up to 46-metres-tall (maximum) with unique cold storage and automation technologies, loading areas, parking lots, and office space. 

“Natural heritage conservation and tree compensation works will also be provided as part of one of the phases of development.”

The requested zoning amendments are for the first phase of NewCold’s plan. That includes a 46-metre tall frozen, high-bay warehouse with 14,683 sq. m. of floor space, as well as a two-storey dispatch warehouse with 7,120 sq. m. of floor area and 1,100 sq. m. of office space, with a three-storey bump-out for equipment storage.

Also included is the extension of Southgate Drive to Crawley Road.

Efforts to reach NewCold representatives for comment weren’t immediately successful.

“These variances are intended to facilitate NewCold’s proposed development of the subject site across all proposed phases that will be subject to the site plan approval process,” the letter adds.

Shakiba Shayani, president of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, praised the plan in a written submission to the provincial government ahead of changes it implemented to the city’s official plan last month. 

Those changes included specific changes allowing industrial uses for NewCold’s property at 384 Crawley Rd.

“The NewCold Guelph Sustainability Campus will introduce an innovative approach to creating an energy-efficient cold storage facility,” she wrote. “Complementing the emerging growth of the Hanlon Creek Business Park while addressing the ongoing need for food storage and security, the Sustainability Campus will contribute to the economic development of Guelph and area by creating over 550 full-time jobs and generate over $45 million in annual wages when complete.”

The provincially applied changes to Guelph’s official plan includes allowing up to 160,000 sq. m. of floor area and a height cap of 46 metres for the site.

“These variances are intended to facilitate NewCold’s proposed development of the subject site across all proposed phases that will be subject to the site plan approval process.”

The committee is set to consider NewCold’s requests during its June 8 meeting, which begins at 4 p.m. at city hall. People are welcome to attend in person or watch the meeting online at guelph.ca/live.

Anyone wanting to address the committee must register with the committee no later than noon on June 7. To do so, call 519-822-1260 ext. 2524 or email [email protected].


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Richard Vivian

About the Author: Richard Vivian

Richard Vivian is an award-winning journalist and longtime Guelph resident. He joined the GuelphToday team as assistant editor in 2020, largely covering municipal matters and general assignment duties
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