Ben Phillips, Manager, Official Plan & Data provided an overview of the Proposed Mississauga Official Plan 2051.
Ben Phillips, Manager, Official Plan & Data, responded to enquires from Councillor Butt and Councillor Horneck with respect to responding to written submissions received, engaging in discussions with land owners, converting space in office buildings to residential, re-designating high density areas to medium density, the percentage of affordable housing targets and policy that encourages larger units.
The following persons spoke:
- Glen Broll and Jim Levac, Glen Schnarr & Associates, expressed concerns that the provisions in the Official Plan such as Design Guidelines that permitted change are now being entrenched as policy and noted the challenges to comply with these policies.
Glen Broll, responded to enquiries from Councillor Horneck and Councillor Tedjo with respect to lessons learned from other complex Municipalities and whether we are adding existing processes or are we creating new policies within the Official Plan.
Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building clarified that the Urban Design type guidelines policies added to the Official Plan are more to encourage rather than “shall”; and that these policies are important in the transition of Mississauga.
- Mary Flynn-Guglietti, McMillan LLP, spoke on behalf various property owners. Flynn-Guglietti highlighted comments in the letter from Jim Levac with respect to 1225 Dundas Street which falls under several designations. Ms. Flynn-Guglietti spoke to the opportunity to intensify, provide mixed development; and highlighted Chapters 5, 8, 10 and 11 in the Official Plan that are unclear, and suggested zoning type policies and guidelines be separated from the Official Plan.
- John Lohmus, Plan Logic Consulting Inc., on behalf of Ahmed Group of Companies presented a PowerPoint presentation overview with respect to addressing affordable housing, federal level of funding, Region of Peel's Official Plan. Lohmus spoke to applications submitted for various sites and highlighted the various requests for consideration.
Councillor Dasko spoke regarding the Dundas Street East properties Mr. Lohmus spoke to, and clarified that there are ongoing discussions and studies with respect to land use compatibility issues along the corridor.
- Joe Amato, Resident provided history of his property as it relates to the Official Plan guidelines, policies and designation and is seeking removal of his property's designation. Mr. Amato highlighted key policy changes in the Official Plan that relates to the rental development Mr. Amato plans to build. Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building, advised that staff would take Mr. Amato's submissions and look into the matter and respond directly to Mr. Amato.
- Nalini Chariandy, Resident, provided an overview of her perspective and understanding of the changes to the Official Plan. Ms. Chariandy noted that there was no referencing in the Official Plan or the Region's Official Plan with respect to neighbourhood policing to address crime.
Ben Phillips, Manager, Official Plan & Data, and Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building responded to Councillor Damerla's enquiry regarding the provincial housing targets and affordability definition and noted that staff would prepare a memo to the Committee on affordability definition.
Councillor Fonseca explained that the Official Plan contains a component such as complete communities and noted that there are other Master Plans and key pillars, as well as the Region's Community Safety and Well Being Plan that speak to community safety.
In response to Councillor Horneck's enquiry how the City can engage its residents on this subject matter, Ms. Chariandy noted that she found the Official Plan to be an easy read with diagrams and schedules easy to follow; however, what is missing is educating the residents on the responsibilities and collaboration between the different levels of government.
- Kelly Singh, on behalf of More Homes Mississauga (MHM) provided an overview of the organization’s advocacy, noted that the Official Plan lacks the advancement of housing solutions and adds more restrictions. Ms. Singh highlighted staff responses to enquiries from MHM at recent community meetings, with respect to height restrictions, allowing low density, angular planes and challenges of working with two-tiered government. Ms. Singh noted that the City of Mississauga is behind its housing targets and emphasized the need for the City to take action to demonstrate a level of urgency.
Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner Planning and Building emphasized that the Official Plan is facilitating new housing; and noted that staff would look at the policies that may not be working. Mr. Whittemore spoke to the challenges of heights especially in the MTSA’s and working in a two-tiered government and conforming to Regional Official Plan.
- Jonathan Giggs, Resident enquired regarding the impacts of declining population; population forecast numbers that need to be achieved; will the population continue to decline with the adoption of the Official Plan. Giggs, expressed concerns that housing growth will occur in small geographic areas, and that some areas will experience a dramatic changes; and, the provisions to retain retail/commercial square footage.
In response to Mr. Gigg’s enquiries, Ben Phillips, Manager, Official Plan & Data, advised that the City has a population forecast that needs to be achieved as set by the province; the City is building new homes; high density neighbourhoods may see more growth than other neighbourhoods in the City; there are opportunities to stabilize neighbourhoods by providing wide range of housing options; conducted land budget exercise to predict growth in the City. Mr. Phillips emphasized the importance of mixed-use communities by maintaining mid-sized plazas in neighbourhoods where people can walk/cycle to.
In response to Councillor Butt's suggestion that the approval of the final Official Plan be held off until a new Mayor is in place and has had the opportunity to review, Ben Phillips, Manager, Official Plan & Data, advised that staff would bring an Official Plan report in early Fall.
Councillor Fonseca requested that staff prepare communications to notify residents/developers that the timelines have change to provide feedback prior to the approval of the Official Plan in the Fall, and to provide a copy to the Councillors.
Councillor Dasko noted that the Port Credit Local Area Plan with respect to Lakeshore Connecting Communities and the Lakeview Transportation Plan are not complete and are ongoing; and that he will discuss this further with staff and bring in the Port Credit BIA for their feedback.