Mark MacKinnon, Ward 6 Councillor for City of Guelph

Today the city has announced their designs for new playgrounds in Ward 6 and throughout Guelph.

Ontario peeps: Do you have school-aged children (K-12), or children up to age 21 with special needs? Have you applied for Ontario's Support for Learners f...unding yet? If not, you may be eligible for a one-time payment of $200 or $250. Applying is fast and easy! https://www.iaccess.gov.on.ca/SupportForLearn//index.xhtml

Be sure to enter the next KHNG contest!

In December of 2020, the City of Guelph council made some very important changes that can impact the values of properties, and also provide tremendous opportuni...ties for home-owners. We summarized the information from an article in Guelph Today written by Richard Vivian in this interview with Mark MacKinnon, Ward 6 Councillor for City of Guelph The provincial government recently decreed that accessory apartments be allowed in a wide variety of zoning and density districts throughout Ontario, and that secondary dwellings be permitted in backyards in an effort to increase residential intensification and provide for a wider range of housing options. Though required to align with those orders, it was left up to each municipality to decide how to implement them. Here’s where Guelph council ended up following a series of proposed amendments to the staff recommendations: Secondary units are capped at 45% of the net floor space of the main home for both an apartment within the primary residence or a detached unit the same as now for secondary apartments. Apartments can take up the entire basement as long as it’s smaller than that size threshold and detached secondary units have a maximum size of 80 square metres. Both apartments and detached secondary dwellings are limited to no more than two bedrooms. Detached secondary units, not generally allowed in the city, must be no taller than 5 metres or the height of the main residence (whichever is less) and take up no more than 30% of the yard space. If the secondary dwelling is located above a detached garage, a height of up to 6.1 metres is allowed, provided it doesn’t exceed the height of the primary residence. Setbacks for detached units are also aligned with setbacks for the primary residence. In theory, the new housing options means there could be 3 units on a property, even a townhouse property the primary residence, an accessory apartment and a secondary dwelling in the yard. However, noted city staff, the requirement to provide at least 1 parking space for each unit would limit the likelihood of that happening in some cases.

A wonderful video showing the progress of the Sikh Gurdwara on Clair Road. Opening 2021 in Ward 6.

Today [24 Nov 20] I sent out the latest Ward 6 Guelph News and Views Update Email, with info about our Ward 6 virtual 2021 budget town hall, new committee chairs, and Guelph's Report An Issue portal. Read it, and sign up to my newsletter list, at: https://mailchi.mp/c45/ward-6-news-update-16nov2020-4202953

This is an important issue for the 2022 municipal election, both for Ward 6 and the entire city. If you have questions about internet voting, tune in to the virtual open house tonight.

Today [16 Nov 20] I sent out the latest Ward 6 Guelph News and Views Update Email, with info about our Ward 6 virtual 2021 budget town hall, Have Your Say surveys, and fall leaf curbside collection. Read it, and sign up to my newsletter list, at: https://mailchi.mp/988d187b467d/ward-6-news-update-16nov2020

Join Dominique O'Rourke, Ward 6 City Councillor, Guelph and me for a Ward 6 virtual town hall about the City of Guelph's 2021 budget. Tuesday, November 24th from 7-9 pm