Another Condo is Coming to a Busy Neighbourhood in Mississauga
Published October 22, 2017 at 9:57 pm
As you no doubt know, Mississauga has experienced a flurry of sparkling new condo developments that have come into the city to accommodate growth as well as to provide “affordable housing” (or at least slightly more affordable housing).
Most of that growth in high rise condos has been occurring in Mississauga City Centre in developments such as M City (adjacent to Square One). There are also high rise buildings planned along Hurontario as the LRT project begins the official construction phase in 2018.
But don’t go thinking that planners have been putting all their eggs into the City Centre basket. If you are familiar with west end Mississauga or driven through it on occasion, you will notice that there are new condos going up n the lands around Erin Mills Town Centre.
Daniels Corporation presented to Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee (PDC) last week a proposal for a new condo development slated to go up at the northeast corner of Eglinton Avenue and Erin Mills Parkway, as seen in the map below.
The application requests the permission to build three apartment buildings with heights of 24, 25 and 36 storeys with accessory retail and commercial office use (the original electronic copy of the agenda showed the first building to be only 22 storeys). Below is an artistic rendition of the proposed 25 and 36 storey buildings:
Videos
Here is another rendering:
Mississauga’s Official Plan indicates that for the Erin Mills area, proposals for heights of more than 25 storeys will only be considered if the following criteria is demonstrated to the City of Mississauga’s satisfaction:
-
That there is an appropriate transition in heights respecting the surrounding context.
-
The development proposal enhances the existing or planned development.
-
Mississauga’s structure hierarchy is maintained.
-
The development proposal is consistent with the policies of the official plan.
The applicant is proposing to change the current zoning to permit, in addition to the three residential buildings ranging from 24, 25 and 36 storeys:
-
Allowing a maximum height of 36 storeys.
-
Allowing up to 4 000 square metres (43,056 square feet) of accessory retail and office commercial uses.
-
A maximum of 977 dwelling units (338 rental units and 639 condominium units).
-
A maximum floor space index (FSI) of 3.8.
-
A number of exceptions to the regulations for setbacks, parking and landscape buffers.
The representative for Daniels Corporation said the 36 storeys gave the development, in his words, some “major oomph.” Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito asked for some clarification as to how these buildings fit into the character of the community in Mississauga known as “Central Erin Mills,” which includes neighbouring Ward 8. Saito also cited concerns over the Daniels plan superseding existing plans to have more office and medical space surrounding the mall, as the office space was needed more than residential.
The other issue was the height, as 36 storeys was beyond the maximum height of 25 storeys in the area. Saito said it was a “red flag” and the Chair of PDC, Ward 11 Councillor George Carlson, said while the buildings being located near the stormwater pond were a good fit, the development was a bit overly ambitious and was hoping there would be “something more modest in scope.”
A community meeting was held by Carlson in June, and an area resident also held a community meeting later in August, which was attended by both City staff and Councillor Carlson. These were the comments and concerns raised by residents during those prior meetings before PDC.
-
The City should down-designate and down-zone the site to take away the existing permissions in place for two, 25 storey apartment buildings.
-
The proposed building heights, and the overall density is too much for the site, and will create shadows on detached homes located to the east of the site.
-
Additional traffic generated by the development will impact the entire neighbourhood and particularly the intersection of Erin Mills Parkway and Eglinton Avenue West, as there are too many accidents already.
-
Concerns were expressed for pedestrian safety.
-
Potential impact on emergency vehicles’ access to the hospital.
-
Concern over potential future need for hospital expansions and school capacity in the area.
There were some comments from two residents that gave the indication that people were content with the development if it was only the 24 and 25 storeys and not the 36 storeys. Concerned that increased traffic conditions would cause more people to take the little side streets, one woman said that Mississauga had enough iconic buildings and suggested that this area didn’t need another one.
Would this development be just as high quality if there were only two condominiums that were within the accepted height levels, or do they need that 36 storeys in their to give that “oomph” that the Daniels representative said the development brings?
Mississauga councillors voted to accept the report for further examination before making a final decision in a future planning meeting, but do you think the development should stay as it is or does it require further improvements?
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising