4,600 units European-influenced community in Brampton will need approval from Region of Peel
Published January 23, 2024 at 10:24 am
Getting shovels in the ground for a huge new mixed-use development project with a European feel in Brampton will have to wait for approval from the Region of Peel.
The city is moving closer to signing off on a proposed development at 1735 Steeles Ave. West. with plans for stacked townhouses, two apartment towers and a pair of office buildings.
And while the city is soon expected to sign off on the plan, the proposal would still need a rubber stamp from the Region of Peel before any construction can move ahead, according to a new report.
The development application is from KLM Planning Partners and Metrus Central Properties for a pedestrian-friendly walkable community with a central park, a network of connecting pathways and Dutch-style “woonerf” service driveways.
There are also plans for both underground and surface parking, and the development plan will promote active transportation and cycling.
The application also includes plans for neighbourhood parks and retail shops, and if given the green light by the city, the project could bring some 4,685 residential units to Brampton.
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The report will go to Brampton’s planning and development committee on Thursday before going to city council, and then to Peel Regional council for the final go-ahead – a bureaucratic process Brampton Mayor Brown has said is slowing down construction of sorely needed homes.
Moving forward with the development would require the Region ” to facilitate final approval” of the project and the Major Transit Station Area hub at Steeles Avenue and Mississauga Road, according to the report.
The area surrounding the two proposed sites is zoned for a variety of uses, with a gas station, townhouses, single-family homes, and a retail plaza near the north parcel and another gas station and future development land to the south.
Last year the province announced and then reversed a decision to break up the Region of Peel as a way to reduce red tape and speed up housing developments, but Brown said the uncertainty around the split actually slowed some projects down.
Brown has repeatedly called for changes to the two-tiered approval system to address a lack of affordable housing in the city.
The province has set aggressive housing targets last year for municipalities across Ontario, a plan which would require an additional 145,000 additional homes in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon by 2031 which could cost more than $20 billion.
Brampton has also received a $114 million funding commitment from the Liberals to kick-start the construction of housing projects in the city.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser said the funding will allow for the fast-track construction of 3,150 homes in the next three years and some 24,000 homes over 10 years, and Mayor Patrick Brown says the investment will build on council’s efforts and “unlock significant housing growth.”
