‘Bizarre’ 26-storey residential building proposal rejected in Mississauga

A plan to build a 26-storey residential building at a former OPP station in Mississauga has been rejected in its current form.

The proposal for the building with 352 units at 49 South Service Rd., at Hurontario Street and the QEW, from Edenshaw Developments Ltd. first came in October of 2022.

Right after a public meeting on the project in March, the developer went to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a non-decision. Staff recommended rejecting the proposal in its current form and councillors agreed at a meeting this week.

City planners don’t have a problem with the density of the building, said city planner Michael Franzolini at the Planning and Development Committee meeting on Sept. 5. The development is in an area targeted for intensification.

But there isn’t enough information on parts of the proposal. The first issue is there are 18 locations where the building would create unsafe wind conditions for pedestrians, said Franzolini.

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The building plan doesn’t meet the Ministry of Transportation setback requirements. It won’t be safe and there won’t be enough space for outdoor space for the building.

Also, there are 137 parking spaces proposed and the city requires 387 for this development.

While no one from the public has come forward to complain about the proposal, Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish said she thought that was because people “don’t believe it is really going to happen.”

“It’s the most bizarre development I have ever seen,” said Parrish.

Parrish said Queen Elizabeth Sr. Public School is so close but there would need to be an enclosed walkway for students to get to it safely.

Ward 6 Councillor Joe Horneck said it’s a “hostile” pedestrian environment right beside the QEW and would it be difficult to sell units to potential residents for this reason. There would need to be safe pedestrian walkways.

Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko agreed and said he has raised these issues at previous meetings. He added other issues including shadows on a playground and residential area and a possible future expansion of roadways.

He also said it was too early to bring the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

“Running off to the OLT is quite premature,” said Dasko.

A representative from Edenshaw said they have reviewed the staff report and agree with the recommendations. They will work with the city.

For more information on this project, see the meeting discussion and reports here.