Guelph’s Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan and Master Environmental Servicing Plan has raised concerns with Puslinch councillors.
When city representatives last spoke with Puslinch council there was discussion of a transition area between high density development and the rural nature of the township.
The Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan Study is intended to help Guelph plan the last greenfield area within the city.
The study area is over 520 hectares and is located in the southeast corner of Guelph, bounded by Clair Road to the north, Victoria Road to the east, Maltby Road to the south and the eastern limits of the Southgate Business Park to the west.
Three conceptual community structure alternatives, all showed either high density residential development or commercial areas down Gordon Street to the city/township boundary.
Only one of the proposals indicates a greenspace gateway feature at the boundary.
The preliminary preferred alternative is one with high density residential development adjacent to Maltby Road.
Councillor John Sepulis indicated he was at the Guelph meeting where the alternatives were presented.
Sepulis said the verbal portion of the report indicated a soft transition between the high density development in the city and the rural aspect of Puslinch to create a buffer zone.
However, study illustrations show a hard transition from high density development to the rural properties across the road at the intersection of Gordon and Maltby.
“I’d like to see a consistent approach,” said Sepulis.
Mayor Dennis Lever noted that at the Guelph meeting, the issue was brought up and referred to concept plans, which did talk about the soft transition.
Sepulis clarified the recommended plan is not showing a soft transition.
Lever later stated the township is generally supportive of the Clair-Maltby plan, which includes a green gateway feature, but it still wants to see an urban-to- rural transition in the area bordering Puslinch.
“Council is of the opinion that high density development immediately north of Maltby Road … is not an appropriate land use transition between the two municipalities,” said Lever.
Puslinch councillors asked the designation be replaced to show low and medium density development.
