When can I expect to be able to move into Mt. Pleasant Heights?
We are still in the planning and approval stage, and if approved will have to complete detailed site planning, design and servicing. We expect construction on homes to begin within two years.
The province is proposing a transitway beside this community. How will that serve future residents of this community?
Mt. Pleasant Heights will be accessible through a variety of transit services. The future Züm stop, at the intersection of Mississauga Road and Bovaird Drive will provide residents and visitors with connections to current and future GO stations and beyond. Future transit routes can also be incorporated to provide additional connections between Mt. Pleasant Heights and other destinations within Brampton, Toronto and the GTA.
Will there be a new school to serve young families in this community?
A new elementary school is a central component of the Mt. Pleasant Heights neighbourhood. Conveniently located in the middle of the community, it offers an opportunity for students to walk to school — promoting pedestrian activity and contributing to an active lifestyle for residents.
What proportion of the land will be used for park and natural open space?
We have designated 24 per cent of this project for parks, open spaces and natural areas.
The plan has identified 30 acres of natural open space, including a woodlot and wide buffer along both sides of West Huttonville Creek. Another three acres of parkland are included, plus an additional five acres for the elementary school.
These passive recreational spaces will serve as the foundation for active mobility routes within Mt. Pleasant Heights. They will provide complementary connections to the existing trails and connections within the surrounding communities. These amenities will provide connections for both pedestrians and cyclists and may consist of recreational trails, on-street bike lanes, multi-use trails, sidewalks and additional connections.
This land is already identified for development. Why are further planning permissions needed?
While the land is identified for development, the details of where various uses, roads and other infrastructure will be located still needs to be determined.
This property is within the City of Brampton Urban Boundary, and is within the Mount Pleasant Secondary Plan Area, respecting the principles of the City’s draft Heritage Heights Secondary Plan.
This area is also noted by the City to be a gateway area of Brampton and is in close proximity to a Gateway Transit Hub on Bovaird Drive West.
Why is a police station part of this development?
Peel Regional Police have need for a new division within 48 months, and in partnership with the Region of Peel have identified Mt. Pleasant Heights as an appropriate location for the 50,000-square-foot facility.
Brampton City Council has made clear its commitment to combatting crime and improving the safety of families in the community. This is important for the quality of life of residents, and the ability to attract jobs, investment and a highly skilled workforce to Brampton.
Adequately resourcing the Peel Regional Police to do their job is an essential ingredient in the plan to tackle crime and make neighbourhoods safe. Delivering on the potential to construct a new division in northwest Brampton is important to help the police to do their job.
A Minister’s Zoning Order will be a big step in that direction.
What is a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO)?
A Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) is a special tool in the Municipal Act that enables Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to implement a zoning bylaw and expedite a development project. This MZO is being considered by the Minister at the request of the City of Brampton.
We understand that Peel Regional Police hope to establish and operate their new division within 48 months. With detailed site planning, design and servicing taking time, and the actual construction alone anticipated to take 24 months, the time pressures involved are significant. This means that the work on such a division must begin in the near future.
Under a conventional planning process, the time required to achieve site specific approvals and the associated statutory process, means that these lands would be unlikely to meet the timing requirements of the Police, if a “business-as-usual” approach was employed.
However, should a Ministerial Zoning Order be issued, there is real potential to meet the timelines the Police are hoping to achieve.
More information will become publicly available as we receive the necessary approvals.
Where will the police station be located?
That is still under discussion. The exact location of the police station in the development will be determined at a future date.
Brampton has an urgent need for housing. How will this proposal meet that need?
This is another reason we are requesting an MZO.
Both the City of Brampton and the Province of Ontario have identified the delivery of a supply of housing as critical to meet the needs of a growing population, and to address the increasing challenges of affordability, particularly as faced by young families. The issuance of an MZO for Mt. Pleasant Heights will deliver nearly 1,000 residential homes, with the potential of up to 1,500 residential units in a diverse range and mix of housing forms.
Are there development opportunities beyond what you have planned?
Opportunities for future higher order developments have been strategically located along the major roadways that frame the Mt. Pleasant Heights community and serve as an entry point to the site. The location for higher density housing will benefit from increased accessibility to Bovaird Drive and create a visual draw into the neighbourhood, locating the site within the broader Mount Pleasant area.
Importantly, this land will accommodate a range of uses to provide residents and visitors with access to nearby services. Bordering the edge of the Mt. Pleasant Heights site, the higher order mixed-uses will benefit from the best balance of regional accessibility and proximity to the site’s school and parkland.
How will you change your plan if certain parts of it prove problematic or look like they won’t be approved?
We believe our proposal reflects good community planning; a plan that is the result of many rounds of adjustments. We would like to hear input from the community and understand what ideas may help us to improve our plan further. Please take a moment to fill out the form on this site and all comments will be reviewed.
How will the increased traffic from the new homes impact the community and what plans are there to mitigate?
Mt. Pleasant Heights, as part of its application, submits a comprehensive traffic impact study. The City will determine if the impact on traffic is acceptable or if our application requires amendments on this topic. From our research, we believe that our proposed development will have minimal impact on the community’s existing traffic volumes. A link to the traffic report will be provided shortly.
How are you protecting and preserving the watercourse/valley corridor running across the property?
Conservation of natural areas is important to us, and we will ensure they are protected and preserved. We have allowed for wide buffer areas on either side of West Huttonville Creek, and we are preserving a large woodlot and natural open space throughout the community. A total of 30 acres of woodlot and natural open space will be preserved and protected.
Our application has been deemed complete by the City; all required reports will become part of the public domain and you will be able to see how Mt. Pleasant Heights addresses all of these concerns. Links to these reports will be available on this website shortly. We will satisfy all of the criteria related to traffic, green space, engineering studies, environmental conservation etc. as laid out by the City of Brampton, the Region of Peel, Credit Valley Conservation and all other relevant agencies.
Note: This FAQ will continue to be updated periodically. We encourage you to ask more questions using the contact form below.