Mayor Cam Guthrie agreed affordable housing would be valuable to the site, but said it could be done without the city having to buy those two acres.

“Most of the time, developers need a financial incentive to have units become affordable,” he said, referring to the city’s affordable housing incentive plan, which allows the city to give money to developers willing to build affordable units.

“So is there a conversation that, instead of land, we actually work with the developers that actually are going to be building the buildings anyways.”

The mayor added having the city buy the land may take longer to have affordable housing built, as the city would then have to turn around and go to Wellington County should council want social or subsidized housing built.

Doing that, the mayor said, could see the land sit empty.

Council voted unanimously to receive the application, which now goes back to city staff. Staff will bring forward a report in the future — with no set timeline — recommending council to either approve or reject the application.

Council asked about more than just a possible affordable housing component, with both residential and commercial sections planned for the property.

As for what sort of businesses could potentially go in the proposed mixed-use buildings, Clos said it is “going to be things like restaurants, personal service, financial establishments or offices.”

“However, if a grocery store did come along and wanted to locate here — they haven't so far, but if they did — that is something that we would look to how it could be accommodated,” she later added.

The development would also include a park, an urban square, a stormwater management facility and new public streets connecting all of it.

Clos confirmed the park and square would be public, with those lands, along with what will make up the stormwater management facility, conveyed to the city should the proposal receive council’s approval.

The plan is being put forward by Silvercreek Guelph Developments Ltd. And 2089248 Ontario Ltd. According to corporate records, both are registered to Jack Eisenberger and Thomas Kohn, the principles of Toronto-based Fieldgate Developments.

Mario Bottero of Rosewater Management Group, a Concord-based land development firm, is also listed under records for 2089248 Ontario Ltd.