Archive for Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts

| September 13, 2012
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Guelph Transit Wants YOU! Apply to join Transit Advisory Committee

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Do you use Guelph Transit? Looking for a way to help make it better for everyone? Then apply to join the Transit Advisory Committee (Details below) http://www.stevenpetric.com/2012/08/26/guelph-transit-advisory-committee-report/

Transit Advisory Committee

6 vacancies, 1–2 year term (2 regular users of Guelph Transit conventional services; 1 regular user of Guelph Transit mobility services; 1 member representing environmental interests; 2 community members at large)

Meetings held:

Once per month then every Three months or as deemed necessary by the Committee

Summary of duties:

The committee will provide a forum for input, exchange of ideas and debate on conventional and mobility transit related issues with representation from all aff ected groups in the community.

Please specify on your application whether you are applying as a regular user of Guelph Transit conventional services; a regular user of Guelph Transit mobility services; a member representing environmental interests; or a community member at large)

Contact:

Charlene Sharpe, 519-822-1260 x 2624;

charlene.sharpe@guelph.ca

City Pages in Guelph Tribune on the 13th of September 2012 – http://www.guelph.ca/uploads/PDF/City%20News/2012/CN_09.13.12.pdf

APPLICATION FORM IS FOUND HERE: http://guelph.ca/uploads/PDF/committee-application.pdf

TERMS OF REFERENCE CLICK HERE: http://www.stevenpetric.com/2012/08/26/guelph-transit-advisory-committee-report/

Category: Blogs, Cycling, Downtown, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Neighbourhoods, Public Space, Transit, Youth | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 23, 2012
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Grand Opening of Guelph Civic Museum this weekend

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Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/-jm/

Photo from Flickr by http://www.flickr.com/photos/-jm/

 

The long awaited grand opening of the Guelph Civic Museum is this weekend. I am so happy and proud that as a community we were able to save an important piece of our city’s heritage and history and find a new use for it. There will always be those few who will scoff at the amount of time and money spent on this place, but I for one feel that this is a great investment and will continue to be for decades to come for everyone.

The new Guelph Civic Museum is rolling out the welcome mat on its opening this weekend, February 24 to 26, inviting the public to open houses that include behind-the-scenes tours of collections storage areas. The Museum will be open on Friday, February 24 from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free on opening weekend.

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Category: Architecture, Arts, Music and Events, Downtown, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, History, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Library, Neighbourhoods, Outdoors, Public Space, Tourism, Youth | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 23, 2012
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Guelph Urban Forest Plan still in planning

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Photo by Steven Petric

The view from the Twin Towers toward Downtown Guelph

The following article appeared in the Guelph Mercury on February 22nd, 2012

Much has been done on paper, but as yet those emerging paper plans haven’t been shaped into action on the ground when it comes to Guelph’s ambitious urban forestry management plan.

The city’s planning and building, engineering and environment committee voted to receive a report from consultants Urban Forest Innovations Incorporated and Beacon Environmental on Tuesday. The vote keeps the planning process in motion.

A vision of Guelph covered in a sprawling green canopy, and a plan to make that happen, has now been in the works for five years, and the canopy has not expanded over that time – in fact, it has shrunk.

The plan, with a proposed start-up in 2013, calls for a coordinated, multi-departmental effort to plant more trees, protect and care for existing trees, and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new personnel and equipment to nearly double the city’s tree cover within the next 20 years.

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Category: Downtown, Growth, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Neighbourhoods, Outdoors, Public Space, Tourism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 19, 2012
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At the Hall: Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings

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Here are meeting agendas for the week of Feb 20 – 24th. Information gathered from the Guelph Civic League Blog:
Council Strategic Plan Workshop – Feb 22nd (discussions about possible ‘bold’ change):  http://guelph.ca/uploads/Council_and_Committees/Council/council_agenda_022212.pdf

Planning & Building, Engineering and Environment Committee – Feb 21st (includes Heritage District report):  http://guelph.ca/uploads/Council_and_Committees/PEES/pbee_agenda_022112.pdf

Operations & Transit Committee – Feb 21st (includes discussion of commemorative tree plaques): http://guelph.ca/uploads/Council_and_Committees/OT/OT_agenda_022112.pdf

Category: Architecture, Arts, Music and Events, Downtown, Growth, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Library, Neighbourhoods, Public Space, Tourism, Transit | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| February 5, 2012
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My View: Marianne’s Park vs the Condos

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My View: 180 Gordon Street beside Marianne’s Park

Well here we are. Many months have passed since this proposal to develop the old Shell station at 180 Gordon Street was brought forward. Many public meetings have been held, consultations have been done with the neighbourhood and citizens of Guelph, and the developer has even amended their original proposal cutting 1 unit, from 12 to 11  and made other adjustments to appease the city planning department, city council and the neighbourhood.

Sadly, after the last public meeting, where many concerns and comments were brought forward, nothing has really changed about this proposal. Still at 11 units, with many exceptions being asked for, city staff and the developer have not done enough to address the issues raised. Instead of looking at the real issues on density and the ‘elephant’ in the room, Marianne’s Park, they have went out of the way to find any reason to justify the size and density  (using the Places to Grow act) and exceptions being asked for on this small lot, even if it goes against already long stated city policy and bylaws such as buffers between parks and development.

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Category: Architecture, Blogs, Growth, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Neighbourhoods, Public Space, Transit | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 4, 2012
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Condo proposal ‘elephant’ in the room: Marianne’s Park

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Here are a few articles and general information regarding the proposed 11 townhouses on the former gas station lot at 180 Gordon Street beside Marianne’s Park. This proposal goes to council Monday February 6th, 2012.

Read my article: 180 Gordon beside Marianne’s Park

The Application as submitted by the developer: Guelph City Council Agenda

 

 

Category: Architecture, Downtown, Growth, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Neighbourhoods, Public Space | Tags: , , , , , ,
| January 1, 2012
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City Hall Digest: Council and Committee Meeting schedule for January 2012

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January 2012 – Council and Committee Meeting schedule

Corporate Administration, Finance & Emergency Services Committee
Monday, January 9 at 5 p.m.

Committee of Adjustment
Tuesday, January 10 at 4 p.m.

Planning & Building, Engineering and Environment Committee
Monday, January 23 at 12:30 p.m.

Operations & Transit Committee
Monday, January 23 at 5 p.m.

Governance Committee
Wednesday, January 25 at 3 p.m.

Guelph City Council – closed meeting
Monday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Guelph City Council
Monday, January 30 at 7 p.m.

Meetings that are closed to the public are normally scheduled prior to Council meeting, and at the conclusion of Standing Committee meetings.

For meeting locations and other information visit guelph.ca/meetings, then select council and committee updates from the drop-down menu, or contact the City Clerk’s Office at 519-837-5603 or email clerks@guelph.ca.

Category: Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts | Tags: , , , , ,
| December 30, 2011
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In Transit: Guelph Transit’s GO Shuttle is fantastic (and 60 cents a ride)

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Now that GO Trains are rolling through Guelph, there was a needed to add Guelph Transit service due buses not leaving enough time to get to the GO Train each morning.

The existing service did not leave anytime to get to the train station, buy a ticket and board the first morning train at 6:14am. With the new shuttle service, GO riders can park their car in select locations, and catch the bus downtown right across from the GO platform with plenty of time to buy tickets and passes.

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Category: Blogs, Cycling, Downtown, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Public Space, Transit, Youth | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| October 8, 2011
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Can condos ‘disrespect’ a city park?

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Obviously Guelph Mercury columnist Greg Mercer did not watch the city council meeting nor did he even bother to look at the comments I and others made at the council meeting correctly. Just using the brief article, ”Proposed condo inappropriate neighbour for memorial park’  for his Saturday column “Can condos ‘disrespect’ a city park?” (Read it by clicking here) is pretty bad considering the lack of facts on why the people opposed the proposed development, and it was not just because of the park or parking or whatever you tried to spin in your column.

There are a number of dots for a reason, Mr. Mercer, between the first part of my quote and the second part. If you read my presentation notes to city council, you will see the real context of the quote and the rest of my speech.

I never said I was against in-fill. What I do not agree with in this proposal is the record breaking many requests for exceptions and amendments to the Official Plan plus the outright ignoring of the Place to Grow/OMB recommended density for this type of in-fill site. Please read my blog/speech here and my response to the article “Proposed condo inappropriate neighbour for memorial park’
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Category: Architecture, Downtown, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Public Space | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| October 5, 2011
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Quote in ‘Proposed condo inappropriate neighbour for memorial park’ article

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I would like to clarify the much edited down quote the Guelph Mercury used for the article from myself. If you read my presentation here or watch it back, there is a huge gap between (the dots) the first part and second part of the quote attributed to me.

Obviously, the newspaper wants good quotes and made it sound like I am totally against any in-fill development at 180 Gordon Street. I clearly stated that I am NOT against in-fill development. What I am AGAINST for this proposal is the number of bylaw zoning amendments requested and the complete ignoring and disrespect of this city’s Official Plan and the Places to Grow legislation for density for sites like this. Re-read my blog post.

Here is the Guelph Mercury article from Tuesday October 4th, 2011.

GUELPH — A four-storey condominium block has no place steps away from a park dedicated to remembering victims of domestic violence, city councillors heard loud and clear Monday night.

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Category: Architecture, Downtown, Growth, Guelph, Guelph City Hall, Ideas, Suggestions and Thoughts, Neighbourhoods, Public Space | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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