First application for development at 75 Dublin St. N. currently in front of the Ontario Municipal Board

A developer has filed a second application to build a five-storey structure on Dublin Street, while the first application works its way through the Ontario Municipal Board.

Earlier this month, Rykur Holdings filed an Official Plan amendment application with the City of Guelph for 75 Dublin St. N., with plans to construct a five-storey complex there.

Currently, the maximum height that a building can be built to on that property is four storeys.

Katie Nasswetter, a senior development planner with the City of Guelph, says that while the development itself has not changed, who is applying for the amendment to the city’s official plan has.

“Last time, it was a city-initiated amendment. Now, they’re applying for their own amendment,” Nasswetter says of Rykur’s application.

“But it is essentially the same development being proposed.”

Nasswetter adds that she expects there will be a public meeting on this new application in early 2018.

Tom Lammer, the man behind Rykur, initially came to city council in September 2016 with a request to fast-track a zoning change for the property in order to construct a five-storey, 42-unit building that would include 20 affordable seniors’ units, with a request to have the building permit by April 2017 in order to qualify for federal infrastructure funding.

At that time, councillors directed staff to fast-track the rezoning and an official plan amendment for the property, which has been vacant since 2011.

The application was later reduced to 35 units, but still stood five storeys tall.