PUSLINCH – Puslinch Township doesn’t believe the City of Guelph is taking its concerns seriously regarding the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan and council passed a resolution at a May 11 special council meeting to reach out directly to Guelph councillors with their complaints.
The motion, which passed unanimously, states the township “formally objects to the approval of Official Plan Amendment No. 79 (Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan Amendment) until such time that the concerns raised by the Township of Puslinch have been adequately addressed and incorporated into … Amendment No. 79.”
Harden Environmental Services has been reviewing the Clair-Maltby plan on behalf of Puslinch and in its latest report, noted that not enough consideration is being given to salt runoff from paved surfaces, like roads and parking lots.
“The city relies on clean groundwater as do all the residents in the township, however, the terrain of the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan area, the proposed density, the lack of overflow storm water outlets to streams (particularly in the Mill Creek subwatershed) will result in the contamination of groundwater,” reads the report by Harden.
“The residents of Puslinch must be offered meaningful protection of their water supply.
“The proposed urbanization is not a temporary use, therefore any protections offered must be permanent.”
The County of Wellington also commented on the Clair-Maltby plan and noted that concerns about the transition between urban Guelph and rural Puslinch have not been addressed either.
The county wanted specific language around minimum setbacks to ensure a gradual transition between landscapes but “there is still a concern that there is only wording to “encourage” increased setbacks and that there is no specific and consistent minimum standard being applied,” wrote Meagan Ferris, manager of planning and environment for the county.
“As future development within this transition area will be developed on an individual basis, this can result in a varied, inconsistent and progressively degraded approach to setbacks.”
Ferris notes this concern was raised in 2019 and still has not been addressed.
Councillor Sara Bailey wondered if there would be more weight to their concerns if council or staff delegated at a Guelph council meeting.
But Mayor James Seeley was confident this resolution would have an impact.
“This will go to council, not staff,” Seeley said.
“This should trigger questions for their council.”
