Ontario Construction Report staff writer
Mississauga says pre-zoning land will make it faster and easier to build housing and businesses near transit, with most new homes and development will be concentrated along key transit corridors such as the Hazel McCallion Line and the Transitway.
To support this growth, Planning and Development Committee has approved a plan to pre-zone lands in many of Mississauga’s major transit station areas. Over time, new development in these areas could support approximately 227,000 residents and 47,000 jobs.
“We know people want to live in communities that are connected, convenient and close to transit,” said Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building. “By pre-zoning lands in major transit station areas, we are creating clear, predictable rules that remove barriers, speed up approvals and make it easier to build complete communities.
“This approach will help us deliver more housing, support new jobs and ensure growth is thoughtfully planned along our transit corridors.”
Pre-zoning sets clear rules upfront for what can be built in each area including building heights and density. It helps guide development in a way that creates more livable, connected communities that are in line with the City’s plans for growth. It also streamlines development processes by:
- providing certainty and removing planning hurdles with clear, predictable guidelines for development along transit corridors
- speeding up approvals, allowing projects to move forward more quickly when they meet zoning requirements
The amendments align with Mississauga Official Plan 2051, which was recently approved by the province after extensive public consultation. It also supports recommendations from the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, including simplifying zoning rules and allowing more flexibility for building height and density around transit.
Where are major transit station areas?
In Mississauga, major transit station areas (MTSAs) are the land within a 500-800 metre radius (approximately 10-minute walk) of a transit station or stop. In total, there are more than 50 MTSAs across the city where higher-density, mixed-use development is encouraged.
Through this project, the city will pre-zoning 35 MTSAs in locations that are expected to accommodate the most residential growth. The City’s online MTSA dashboard provides a map and more information for each MTSA.
An implementing zoning by-law will come to a future City Council meeting for approval.