In the near future, one may see a more abrupt change at the point Guelph ends and Puslinch Township begins.
In some ways, it will be similar to the Puslinch/Cambridge boundary along Townline Road. On the Cambridge side of the road is a tightly-packed commercial and residential development, while the Puslinch side is, for the most part, farmland with some residential estate lots.
Earlier this week the city of Guelph held a public meeting regarding a high density residential high rise on the east side Gordon Street and Claire Road. The proposal includes two 14-storey apartment buildings, one 10-storey apartment building and two four-storey apartment buildings.
Puslinch councillor Matthew Bulmer said he doesn’t want “to go to war with the City of Guelph, but they have made comments and taken us to the Ontario Municipal Board on minor applications on our side of the border.”
Bulmer was quick to state he was not suggesting the township take the city to the OMB on this.
“I have no issue with intensification in urban areas, but this is the type of development I would expect to see closer to the (city) core … rather than on the rural fringe,” he said.
Bulmer asked how it would be considered appropriate to have this type of development in an area he considered a transition area from rural to urban.
Mayor Dennis Lever suggested the city appears to be establishing the area of Claire and Gordon as a self-sufficient area of its own.
Lever commented this would work in conjunction with the commercial development now in the area to alleviate commuting to the city core.
Bulmer agreed that while development of the Gordon and Claire area may benefit Puslinch residents and businesses, “it is a double-edged sword.”
Lever agreed, saying, “We’ve seen the challenges of the Places to Grow legislation with municipalities working to reach intensification targets.” He added achieving that intensification is difficult in neighbourhoods that are very much established.
Lever suggested on a positive side “it is better to have the planning done up front … so we are well aware of what the surrounding area is going to look like.”
