Home medical office approved despite neighbourhood opposition in Mississauga
Published August 8, 2023 at 12:55 pm
A home medical office has got the go-ahead to open in a Mississauga neighbourhood.
After an outcry from nearby residents, Mississauga councillors voted against the home medical office on Burbank Drive in Erin Mills back in November. However, the home owners fought the council decision at the Ontario Land Tribunal, and will now be able open the office.
In November, Dr. Angela George, a rheumatologist, and her husband Randolph Fernandez, sought a minor amendment to open a home medical office. George also sought an amendment to allow a non-resident employee to work in the office.
While home offices are permitted in many residential areas, with limitations, medical and health professional home offices were removed from the list of offices allowed a few years ago in Mississauga.
Neighbours were not happy about the proposal to open a medical office.
Resident Jocelyn Clarke brought a petition to the Nov. 17 Committee of Adjustment meeting, which noted concerns about crime due to “strangers in the neighbourhood”, more cars possibly speeding, and a loss of enjoyment of the community due to the increased traffic.
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The committee rejected the proposal based on the concerns of residents.
But a recent decision from the Ontario Land Tribunal overturned part of council’s decision.
The home medical office was approved as “accessory offices for physicians and health professionals are permitted in residential designations.”
The tribunal also found that the physical character of the neighbourhood would not be altered for a home medical office anymore than other types of home offices.
But George did not get approval to have a non-resident employee at the office. The tribunal accepted the concerns from the neighbours and city and found an employee is “not desirable and will alter the use of the home occupation into a commercial use.”
In a statement the City of Mississauga said council followed its regular process for this appeal and will be guided by any final decision made by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The full Ontario Land Tribunal decision can be found here.
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