City Council Meeting: Development Applications and Highway 50 Safety Concerns

The committee deferred several development matters for further staff review, including three applications tied to walkability-score criteria and multiple truck-related items linked to Highway 50 safety concerns. It approved a Heritage Heights planning amendment on consent, held a Stellantis-related item and a window-well policy item for further review, and heard detailed public delegations on industrial and truck-yard proposals.

Topics Discussed

DEFERRED DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

The committee deferred three development applications to a future council meeting pending a staff report on walkability-score criteria. Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh said, "We'd like uh staff report to come back to council next week rather than it coming to planning as council next week."

The deferred items were: - Item 74: DMHH Partnership application for a zoning bylaw amendment and draft plan of subdivision at 10512 Mississauga Road - Item 77: Zero Heritage Road, Ward 6, Dempson Properties development - Item 78: Related to Item 77

HERITAGE HEIGHTS APPLICATION APPROVED ON CONSENT

Item 76 was moved on consent and approved. It was an application by TFP Heritage Wellness Development for an official plan amendment to permit development of the precinct plan for Sub Area 52-2 West within the Heritage Heights Secondary Plan.

The lands were described as east of Heritage Road and west of Highway 413, west of Mississauga Road, between the CN Rail corridor to the south and Wallace Drive to the north.

HIGHWAY 50 INDUSTRIAL AND TRUCK-YARD SAFETY CONCERNS

The committee heard extensive concerns about truck traffic tied to an application by Blackthorn Development Corp. on behalf of 2798536 Ontario Inc. for lands at 0 Highway 50 and Countryside Drive. The purpose of this public meeting is to provide information to the public and seek feedback on the application filed by Blackthorn Development Corp. on behalf of 2798536 Ontario, Inc. The proposal included a one-storey multi-unit industrial building of about 9,336 square metres, 89 truck and trailer parking spaces, 104 vehicle parking spaces, and access from Highway 50.

Amanda Corbett told councillors, "Public safety is a huge concern and we're really really worried that somebody's going to die here because of all of the the congestion," adding that the site would add "42-way truck trips onto Highway 50 in the morning peak hour and in the afternoon."

Carmemell Peloski said, "The reality is that this is not a question of if a tragedy will occur. It is a question of when," and urged councillors not to approve more truck-related uses in the corridor until existing safety problems are addressed.

Councillor Dennis Keenan also opposed adding traffic before road improvements are in place, saying, "I am not willing to look any of these people in the eye and say that good job on delegating at the region multiple times about safety on Highway 50, but here you go. I'm going to put hundreds more trucks back onto the road there through a driveway that is not visible at all to people."

The committee referred the truck-related matters back to staff for further review rather than making a final decision.

OLD CASTLEMORE ROAD TEMPORARY USE AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES

The committee also discussed a temporary-use extension tied to truck and trailer parking in the Old Castlemore Road area. Councillors questioned why the use had continued while road and compliance issues remained unresolved.

Councillor Paul Vicente said, "What's happened there for the last four years for the last four years that has been an illegal use," adding that extending the use while key works remained incomplete was "sort of saying one thing and doing another thing."

Councillor Keenan noted that Old Castlemore Road reconstruction had been tendered by the developer to the south and that staff were working with that developer "on a fairly regular basis to ensure that that road is constructed."

The matter was referred back to staff for more information on timing for Highway 50 improvements, signalization, and Old Castlemore Road construction.

WINDOW WELLS, PATH OF TRAVEL, AND SECONDARY UNITS

The committee discussed a staff report on window wells and the requirement for a 1.2-metre clear path of travel to below-grade entrances for residential units. Delegates said the rule could make it difficult to build bedrooms in accessory residential units on narrow lots.

Tanvir Ray said, "If you can't have a bedroom in an accessory apartment, what's the point of building it?" He said the rule could leave applicants with "an open concept bachelor apartment."

Deputy Mayor Singh said he understood the safety rationale but wanted more analysis before proceeding. "I'm very nervous to just put my hand up on that when the ramifications are going to be immense," he said. In a separate exchange, he added, "This policy has huge ramifications on future developments on the affordability."

Staff said basement apartments could still be built, but room layouts would need to change so window wells did not block the required path of travel. The item was referred back to staff to return in July.

STELLANTIS-RELATED EMPLOYMENT ITEM

The committee held a Stellantis-related item for further review. During discussion, a speaker identified as Veto Battle called protecting automotive employment lands "a huge step" for workers, suppliers, and the wider community, saying the Brampton assembly plant is "the bedrock of the city."

Motions

• Defer Item 74: DMHH Partnership application, zoning bylaw amendment and draft plan of subdivision at 10512 Mississauga Road — Deferred
• Defer Item 77: Zero Heritage Road, Ward 6, Dempson Properties development — Deferred
• Defer Item 78: Related to Item 77 — Deferred
• Item 76: TFP Heritage Wellness Development official plan amendment for Heritage Heights Sub Area 52-2 West — Approved on consent
• Refer Highway 50 truck-related matters back to planning staff for a recommendation report at a later date — Carried
• Refer Old Castlemore temporary-use/truck-yard matter back to staff for additional information and applicant consultation — Carried
• Hold Item 75: Stellantis-related item for further review — Held
• Refer/Hold window wells and path-of-travel item for further staff analysis and report back in July — Carried

Attendees

Councillors and officials specifically referenced in the notes include: - Dennis Keenan - Paul Vicente - Gurpartap Singh Toor - Harkirat Singh

Other councillors listed for the meeting: - Michael Palleschi - Martin Medeiros - Navjit Kaur Brar - Patrick Brown - Rod Power - Pat Fortini - Rowena Santos

Delegates and speakers referenced in the notes include: - Amanda Corbett - Carmemell Peloski - Tanvir Ray - Veto Battle