Controversial condo development a done deal, but Mississauga residents still fight it

A new highrise development that will bring three condo towers and nearly 1,000 units to the heart of Mississauga is a done deal, but frustrated residents who’ve opposed it from the start are still voicing their disapproval.

Armed with a petition asking City of Mississauga council to somehow reject the developer’s already approved plan to build residential towers of 25, 18 and 16 storeys at 189 Dundas St. W. in Cooksville, area resident of more than 30 years Paul Ricardo told councillors on Wednesday morning that the “three monstrosities” will present a safety threat to children given the additional car traffic they’ll create.

He added the development also presents other issues related to traffic, property values, putting an extra enrolment burden on local schools and the cutting off of sunlight to dozens of homes that will sit in the shadows of the condo towers.

Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla, in whose area the towers are being built, said while she sympathizes with residents and some of their concerns, the details have already been hashed out and the plan has been given the green light after having received all necessary approvals.

The agreement between the developer and the city is now before the Ontario Land Tribunal for ratification, expected on Nov. 14. The OLT adjudicates matters related to land use planning.

The site at 189 Dundas St. W., several blocks west of Hurontario Street. (Photo: Google Maps)

Damerla suggested the city — and area residents — got a better deal by avoiding a fight with the developer at the OLT level.

“It’s not that I’m not sympathetic, but sometimes the choice is between settling (on a deal with the developer) or going to the OLT,” she said, adding, “typically, the city gets a somewhat better result” when settling.

She noted that if a fight were taken to the OLT, it wouldn’t be surprising for the provincial body to approve 30-plus storeys in height for one of the towers, as laid out in the initial proposal from the developer.

“So, by settling, we got some compromises,” the councillor said.

Specifically, the residents’ petition asked the city to reject the proposed development because, among other things, they believe building heights should be restricted in that area to fewer than 18 storeys.

Mississauga resident Paul Ricardo speaks to council on Wednesday about an approved highrise condo development in the Cooksville area.

The plan, as currently approved, will see a 16-storey building front onto Dundas Street West with the 25-storey tower in the middle and an 18-storey tower located on the north portion of the property.

The proposal has been in the works for a number of years. The developer, Augend 189 Dundas West Village Properties Ltd., submitted an application to the city in June 2021.

The earlier plan included tower heights of 32, 20 and 18 storeys. Plans for ground floor retail or commercial space remain.

Late last December, Mississauga planners recommended rejecting the project as initially proposed. But the planning department said it would support intensification of the site with reduced tower heights.

Map shows area where the condo development is located. (Google Maps)