By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca
Halton Hills council received a significant update on the Guelph Street Corridor Secondary Plan, a long-term project designed to transform the artery into a “welcoming and vibrant mixed-use community.”
During the March 9 council meeting, Melissa Ricci, the town’s senior planner, explained that the goal is to create a “comprehensive plan to guide redevelopment along Guelph Street over the coming decades.”
The town previously hosted a public open house for the project’s first phase in September 2025.
Guelph Street study area
The study area encompasses properties fronting Guelph Street from Maple Avenue to Hall Road and McFarlane Drive.
Bobby Gauthier, senior project manager from WSP Canada, highlighted the state of the current corridor, noting that the 1.8-metre sidewalks are below modern standards.
Coun. D’Arcy Keene agreed with the need for a total overhaul, describing the project as a “really interesting exercise in trying to bring life back to a pretty tired area of the town.”
The project is currently in Phase 2, which involves testing and refining land-use scenarios before selecting a preferred plan. There are currently three potential scenarios that the town is looking narrow down.
Scenario 1 — modest change
The first land-use scenario presents a modest change with office and commercial buildings on the north side and mixed-use buildings, such as shops on ground level and apartments above on the south side.
The height of those buildings would be up to six storeys, eight storeys at Guelph Street and Mountainview Road, with some new access lanes to reduce driveway conflicts.
Scenario 2 — more ambitious
The second scenario is more ambitious with mixed-use buildings on both sides of Guelph Street and taller buildings — eight storeys along most of the corridor and 10 storeys at Guelph Street and Mountainview Road. It would require a stronger supporting road network, including more access lanes and new local streets.
Scenario 3 — highest density
The final scenario contains the highest density with mixed-use buildings along the full corridor, with buildings up to eight storeys and up to 12 storeys at Guelph Street and Mountainview Road. Along with a new street and access lane network, it will also explore a possible Armstrong Avenue and MacFarlane Drive connection.
Councillors’ concerns
While supportive of the vision, council members raised questions regarding the technical and practical impacts of intensification.
Keene inquired about a “truck bypass,” noting the town’s “tremendous problems with truck traffic.”
Coun. Jane Fogal expressed concerns about using Armstrong Avenue as an alternative, stating it is “very narrow” and that trucks already “park on the multi-use path,” creating further congestion.
Public meeting
Since council approved the report, the town will host a public open house at Mold-Masters SportsPlex (221 Guelph St., Georgetown) on March 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., where residents can provide feedback on the land-use scenarios.
The feedback garnered at the meeting will help shape the final preferred plan, which will eventually lead to a secondary plan and updated zoning bylaws for the corridor.
More information about the secondary plan can be found on the Let’s Talk Halton Hills website.
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