A much-anticipated city policy review will finally provide new opportunities that could see more stores in Guelph’s retail-starved east end.
The Commercial Policy Review: Preferred Framework goes to council’s planning meeting on Monday. It includes a pair of recommendations specifically aimed at increasing the amount of commercial offerings in east Guelph.
First, it would re-zone two key properties along York Road to allow for a wider variety of uses and larger stores: One is a 16-acre parcel of land on the southeast corner of the Watson Parkway/York Road intersection that is currently home to the Royal Canadian Legion and the Air U Trampoline Park, the other is the land on both sides of York Road extending just east of Victoria Road.
The legion has made it clear that their property is not for sale.
The second recommendation protects the commercial element of the so-called Loblaws property at Starwood Drive and Watson Parkway, making sure that a major portion of that property remains commercial.
“I’m thrilled,” said Ward 1 councillor Dan Gibson, who has been at the forefront of trying to get more offerings in his ward.
“The city doesn’t end at York and Victoria any more. It goes for three more kilometres,” Gibson said. “We needed this concrete step.”
He said this report “greatly expands the opportunities for commercial development along this corridor.”
The Starwood property was supposed to be developed and include a Loblaws store. But it has sat idle for years as Loblaws had chosen not to build.
The report heading to council on Monday notes that Loblaws has indicated a desire to put even less commercial and more residential on that site in the future.
Gibson said the recommendations in policy review prevent that, making sure at least 6,500 square metres of the property is protected for commercial use no matter what the developer wishes.
The report, if approved by council, will allow staff to proceed with changes to the city’s Official Plan and put the new zoning in place.
While those properties are all privately owned, Gibson said, it does provide the opportunity for a type and level of commercial development that didn’t exist before.
“I hear a lot from developers that they need a certain size property,” Gibson said.
