The Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee contributes strategic input and advice on a variety of environmental issues while also fulfilling the statutory requirements of the Planning Advisory Committee (Section 8 of the Planning Act).
The Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee brings diverse public expertise and knowledge with respect to the growth management and environmental issues in City of Guelph. Their mandate includes:
- land use planning;
- protecting Natural Heritage System (NHS) features and areas in a manner consistent with the City of Guelph Official Plan that maintains,
restores, and improves the biodiversity, connectivity and ecological functions of the City’s NHS;
- sustainable communities and circular economy development;
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community;
- adapting the community to climate change impacts; and
- ensuring the ongoing protection of local water resources.
The mandate of Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee is to provide City Council with advice, input, and perspectives on high-level and strategic planning policy initiatives, plans and studies, including, but not limited to:
- Provincial Plan and Policy Conformity;
- Official Plan Reviews/Updates;
- Land Use Planning Studies including Secondary Plans and Block Plans;
- Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendments with City-wide Impacts;
- The Natural Heritage Action Plan;
- The Urban Forest Management Plan;
- Sub-watershed Studies;
- Water and Wastewater Master Planning, including Water Efficiency and Demand Management Strategies and Programming;
- Solid Waste Resources Master Planning, Strategies and Programming;
- Public engagement for bylaw development/updates and public education campaigns;
- Guelph’s Race To Zero Carbon Emissions goal; and
- Other City-led initiatives that could impact growth management and environmental issues.
Board Information
The Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee will meet monthly, as required, on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., excluding August.
The length of meetings will typically not exceed two hours.
All meetings will be conducted in a hybrid format, where possible.
Strategic Plan Alignment
City Building – 6. Improve housing supply
6.1 - Meet our housing pledge;
Environment – 9. Be a leader in climate action
9.1 - Establish a resilient and sustainable city by investing in climate change actions;
9.2 - Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions;
9.3 - Mitigate the impacts of climate change by increasing tree canopy coverage;
9.4 - Protect Guelph’s water supply by advancing the Stormwater Management Master Plan; and
9.5 - Reduce Guelph’s carbon footprint by investing in zero emissions vehicles for our fleet
Environment – 10. Empower the community to help create a sustainable city
10.1 - Encourage community participation in Race to Zero; and
10.3 - Conserve and protect Guelph’s drinking water.
People and Economy – 11. Grow Guelph’s Economy
11.2 - Grow the circular economy by creating and implementing the circular economy framework
All ACOCs also align with the Foundations pillar of the Future Guelph Strategic Plan:
Foundations - 5. Provide excellent service
5.3 - Remove barriers by integrating Guelph’s Equity Lens into everything we do
50 per cent + 1 of the current appointed members, to a minimum of three.
The Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee shall consist of 11 members appointed by Guelph City Council as per the Public Appointment Policy.
Committee members will bring a mix of lived and professional expertise, knowledge and interest related to:
- urban planning including provincial policy and legislation, land use concepts and processes and community planning;
- architecture or landscape architecture;
- development industry such infrastructure, industrial development, sustainable development, etc.;
- ecological and natural heritage;
- environmental sciences;
- energy conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction;
- adapting to climate change impacts;
- municipal water and wastewater systems, water demand management practices and/or associated programming.
The Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee’s composition should also reflect demographic diversity, including ethnicity, gender, disability, etc., to ensure that the committee's advice to City Council reflects Guelph's diverse community, with a focus on engaging those who are underrepresented in local policy making.
City Clerk's Office
519-822-1260 ext. 5603
advisorycommittees@guelph.ca
Lucas Mollame
Policy Planning Project Manager
519-822-1260 ext. 3879
lucas.mollame@guelph.ca
Wayne Galliher
Water Services Divison Manager
519-822-1260 ext. 2106
wayne.galliher@guelph.ca
Cameron Walsh
Solid Waste Resources Division Manager
519-822-1260 ext. 2053
cameron.walsh@guelph.ca
Bryan Ho-Yan
Energy and Climate Change Manager
519-822-1260 ext. 2672
bryan.ho-yan@guelph.ca
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