Controversial condo project set for public scrutiny at Mississauga meeting

A development project that has stirred the emotions of a Mississauga lakefront community will take the next step in the push for approval at a public meeting scheduled for next week.

The proposal for 900 Lakeshore Road West calls for a 10-storey condominium building with 188 residential units on a property where a private home currently sits between Port Credit and Clarkson, next to Richard’s Memorial Park.

Ever since plans for the development were announced, it has met with public opposition, with resident groups complaining it would ruin a unique green area that has largely been left undisturbed except for the existing house, cottage and a swimming pool.

The site where the development is proposed.

There have also been complaints about the look of the proposed building, which some say resembles a “cruise ship” and doesn’t blend in with the surrounding community.

The developers have countered that the project supports the general demand for housing and presents an innovative design and a type of housing option that is not available in that community, one that would be suitable for both empty nesters and young professionals.

Units, the builders say, would be a mixture of ground-level townhouse-style dwellings and one (127 units), two (42 units) and three-bedroom (19 units) apartments that would be sold at market value. There are no plans for affordable housing. The design calls for 205 parking spaces on three underground levels and room for 122 bicycles.

The builders are looking to amend the official plan and zoning bylaw to allow the project to proceed, a process that ultimately needs approval by Mississauga city council, but could be decided by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) if local politicians don’t agree.

Officially, city planners have not committed either way on the project, and a report that will be presented at next week’s meeting recommends that no decision be made until the developers address several outstanding issues, such as how the project will affect local utilities, the environment, parking, traffic, heritage, and how it will benefit the community.

Still, residents fear that a recent pro-development mindset at City Hall — led by Mayor Carolyn Parrish — will lead to approval of the project, and failing that, the OLT will side in favour of the builder.

A statement released by a group representing those who live near the proposed site says the current development model in Ontario puts profit ahead of the public interest by allowing flawed or unwanted projects to proceed and points to recent measures introduced by the city that lower fees charged to developers to encourage more building projects. They say the lack of revenue that is typically raised by the development fees is now pushing the burden of city services onto ratepayers, which means a higher tax bill.

The meeting will take place in front of Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee at 1:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.