Fourplexes will be allowed in Mississauga, Mayor Crombie declares

Fourplexes may soon be permitted in Mississauga in an effort to fight the housing crisis, Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in a directive today that seeks to reverse council’s direction of just over a week ago.

Although she’s on leave to pursue the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, Crombie is permitted under the Municipal Act to invoke strong mayor powers and issue mayoral directives.

The directive, dated Oct. 20, “provides notice that upon returning to her role as mayor during the November budget process, the mayor intends to issue a motion to enact Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments that will permit four-unit housing in Mississauga,” a news release from the City of Mississauga stated.

City council, by the narrowest of margins, defeated a motion on Oct. 11 that called for a plan to allow fourplexes (homes with four units) in the city. The vote was 6-5, with Crombie absent.

Crombie immediately stated via social media her displeasure with that decision and now says her directive puts in motion the “necessary steps” to allow residents to build four residential units on low-rise residential lots.

While Crombie’s move today means another vote by council with respect to fourplexes must be taken at some point down the road, that motion would need only four affirmative votes to pass (and not the currently required six, or seven if all members of council are present) under strong mayor powers rules, city officials note.

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“Given the scale and urgency of the housing crisis, it is critical that leadership at all levels of government work together,” Crombie said in the city’s news release. “Issuing this directive will ensure that Mississauga continues to be eligible for $120 million in important federal funding for housing and community infrastructure while allowing for much-needed housing to be built in our neighbourhoods for the next generation.

Mayor Bonnie Crombie issued a directive on Oct. 20 that fourplexes be permitted in Mississauga.

“This is about increasing the supply of housing and providing greater opportunity for those who want to live in our city, including families and older adults who want to age in place,” she continued. “It is one of many ways we are working to build the ‘missing middle’ in our city and communicate to residents that Mississauga is tackling the housing crisis.”

In response to the mayoral directive, city staff will:

• prepare the required Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments to permit “as-of-right” development for up to four residential units on low-rise residential lots in neighbourhoods city-wide
• schedule a public meeting to be held before the end of 2023 to inform residents

Earlier this week, Mississauga officials let it be known that they’re also pushing for other types of housing including garage apartments and garden suites in the face of what they describe as “a significant housing crisis” in Ontario.

They tabled a host of options they believe will help address the affordable housing problem and meet new housing targets set by the Ontario government.

Mississauga’s housing plan outlines five goals and 23 actions the city will take over the next four years and identifies where the city needs private sector and government support, officials note.

Mississauga city staff say they will update the city’s planning and development committee at its next meeting on Oct. 23 with respect to work that’s underway to address the need for additional housing options in Mississauga neighbourhoods.

Among the options being considered:

• additional residential unit zoning to allow for homes such as garden suites, garage conversions and laneway suites. Officials say the zoning is designed for Mississauga neighbourhoods and meets the province’s requirement to permit up to three residential units on a lot
• a neighbourhood zoning review in which staff will give an update on work to simplify Mississauga’s single-detached neighbourhood zones. This project will help eliminate barriers for housing types like semi-detached and smaller-sized detached homes by allowing more housing options to be built in residential areas that currently allow only single-detached homes
• a multiplex review in which the city will be reviewing how to permit multiplexes across Mississauga

Example of a garden suite that Mississauga officials say could help the affordable housing crisis. (Photo: City of Mississauga)

A motion tabled on Oct. 11 by Ward 2 Councillor Alvin Tedjo to allow more fourplexes to be built in Mississauga was defeated.

“Mississauga is in a housing crisis and the price of homes and rent has increased such that many existing residents can no longer afford to live in the city,” Tedjo’s motion said, adding that the city must also meet the province’s target of 120,000 new housing units by 2031. 

Tedjo argued that there are many single-family homes and lots of residential towers in Mississauga, “but not much in-between,” he noted in a post on his website.

“As the price of homes continues to go up in our city, younger families are being priced out of living in our neighbourhoods. We need to build more homes, and we can build more homes that fit into existing neighbourhoods.”