Affordable housing development gets a green light in Mississauga

An affordable housing development, which many residents have opposed, got a green light in Mississauga.

Indwell Community Homes, a Christian charity that builds affordable housing, has proposed a four-storey, 51-unit affordable apartment building for a vacant lot at 1639 Lakeshore Rd. W. There is commercial space planned for the ground floor. The tenant for the space is not yet determined.

The project received funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Peel Region and hopes to open in 2025.

The project has sparked opposition from area residents who raised concerns about a loss of retail space, parking and community safety. In a petition launched on change.org, the group said they are concerned about the location and the lack of community consultation.

The vacant lot at 1639 Lakeshore Rd. W. Photo: Google Maps

In July, the City of Mississauga’s Committee of Adjustment didn’t approve a request for reducing parking, delaying the project progress.

The applicant planned 17 parking spaces for the site but the zoning bylaw requires 41 spaces, resulting in a shortfall of 24 parking spaces, according to the planning report. Indwell then requested an exemption through the payment-in-lieu program.

Developers who are not providing enough parking can apply for payment-in-lieu of off-street parking.

Several residents spoke out against the reduction of parking spaces at the Oct. 7 Planning and Development Committee. Many residents worried vehicles would park at neighbouring businesses and many even cause safety hazards.

But councillors agreed the development doesn’t need 41 spaces as most of the residents won’t have a vehicle.

“There’s no way this development needs more than 17 parking spots,” Councillor Brad Butt said.

The planning committee generally agreed with a lower number of spots.

Kelly Singh of More Homes Mississauga asked council waive the $246,432 fee for payment in lieu program. Singh said a non-for-profit organization should not pay this type of fee and barriers need to be reduced to support affordable housing. 

Councillor Alvin Tedjo said the city needs more affordable housing. There are over 12,000 neighbours on the wait list for these kinds of homes in Mississauga and the city needs to remove barriers, he said.

“We should be prioritizing people as much as possible,” he said.

He suggested the fee should be reduced.

The committee approved the reduced parking. The fee was reduced to $2 and finally approved at the city council at the Oct. 30 meeting.

Yesterday at #Mississauga Council we reduced a $246,432 tax on affordable housing to $2 There are over 12,000 neighbours on the wait list for these kind of homes in our city We need to remove these kinds of road blocks and build affordable housing

People over Parking!
🪙Yesterday at #Mississauga Council we reduced a $246,432 tax on affordable housing to $2
🏡There are over 12,000 neighbours on the wait list for these kind of homes in our city
🔨We need to remove these kinds of road blocks and build affordable housing pic.twitter.com/ZRzUyuyfe8

— Alvin Tedjo (@AlvinTedjo) October 31, 2024