Downtown Strategy
The City of Mississauga is committed to fostering a dynamic and prosperous downtown area that caters to the diverse needs of its residents, employees, and visitors. In pursuit of this goal, the City will build upon the achievements of the Downtown21 Master Plan, which was introduced in 2010. This visionary plan originally aimed to convert the downtown from a suburban landscape into a vibrant urban centre and has laid the groundwork for the development of the present downtown core.
The draft policies for the Downtown area have been incorporated into the new Draft Official Plan available for review. As the City is preparing to finalize the new draft Official Plan City staff will be presenting an update report to Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee in mid-March 2024. To view the new draft Official Plan and sign up for future updates please visit: www.mississauga.ca/officialplan, or alternatively, you can download a PDF versions:
Draft Mississauga Official Plan 2051
Draft Mississauga Official Plan 2051 Schedules
Your insights will help refine and enrich our Downtown policies. We are grateful for your active participation and encourage you to provide feedback. Thank you for your contributions to the ongoing development and enhancement of our downtown area.
The City of Mississauga is committed to fostering a dynamic and prosperous downtown area that caters to the diverse needs of its residents, employees, and visitors. In pursuit of this goal, the City will build upon the achievements of the Downtown21 Master Plan, which was introduced in 2010. This visionary plan originally aimed to convert the downtown from a suburban landscape into a vibrant urban centre and has laid the groundwork for the development of the present downtown core.
The draft policies for the Downtown area have been incorporated into the new Draft Official Plan available for review. As the City is preparing to finalize the new draft Official Plan City staff will be presenting an update report to Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee in mid-March 2024. To view the new draft Official Plan and sign up for future updates please visit: www.mississauga.ca/officialplan, or alternatively, you can download a PDF versions:
Draft Mississauga Official Plan 2051
Draft Mississauga Official Plan 2051 Schedules
Your insights will help refine and enrich our Downtown policies. We are grateful for your active participation and encourage you to provide feedback. Thank you for your contributions to the ongoing development and enhancement of our downtown area.
Q&A
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One of the best way to improve traffic congestion and beautify cities by reducing noise, pollution etc. is by giving non-car travel an option. Are there any plans for subways/light rail transit other than the Hurontario LRT? I saw old plans that had a proposed route around city centre, but it was scrapped for budgetary concerns. Also, bikers need protected lanes or a portion of the population will never see biking as a viable method of transport. Whenever a bike lane is introduced, engineers ought to ask whether they would trust a 10-year-old child to bike it unaccompanied. So are there any plans for protected bike lanes up/down burnhamthorpe and all of the routes surrounding square one?
ben.gharachorloo asked over 2 years agoThank you for your questions and reflections. The Mississauga Official Plan and the Downtown Movement Plan continue to show the LRT Loop around the Square One area to indicate the City's intent to complete this section of the LRT if and when future funding becomes available.
The 2018 Cycling Master Plan and the Downtown Movement Plan guide the addition of bicycle lanes citywide. Many of the future bike lanes are multi-use trails and cycle tracks, which are separated from the street. Active transportation is encouraged Downtown. There will be plans to add or enhance the biking lanes on existing streets such as Square One Drive and Living Arts Drive, and proposed streets around Confederation Parkway and Rathburn Road. For more information and project milestones please refer to the Plan here.
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What are some concrete actions being considered to improve walkability around square one? Large dangerous road intersections, among other issues, clearly deter pedestrian activity, limiting business/culture/etc. around the core. Safer crossings, e.g. small bridges, a proper main street, and more low to mid rises are essential.
Resident asked over 2 years agoThe Downtown Core continues to evolve and, with it, improvements to the public realm. The Changing Lanes project will provide direction on improving pedestrian safety and convenience along public streets, including streets in the Downtown Core.
In addition to the Changing Lanes project, another study is underway called the Downtown Movement Plan (DMP). One of the DMP's intent is to increase transportation options in the Downtown including cycling and transit, and rely less on driving within the Square One district. The DMP is currently in its final phase of the EA process, and are encouraging people to provide their feedback on the draft documents.
- Please click here for the on-demand engagement, which is open until June 21, 2022.
Thank you again for your participation.
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would you guys consider a variety of architecture and materials sort of like the redevelopment of the christie site at humber bay? On urban Toronto, a lot of people have been complaining that the outline for Mississauga's downtown looks a bit bland because the buildings are all glass and look the same. It might be wise to consider more of a variety of styles, and possible European-style streets as intended at 2150 lakeshore. This would make people move to your city without a doubt.
cole asked about 4 years agoThe City reviews development applications in accordance with the provincial regulations within the Planning Act. The Act gives municipalities certain powers however, does not give the authority to regulate architectural design. The City does however have general policies in the Official Plan to encourage a variety of design components such as: durable materials within buildings, the regulation of massing, floor plate size, height, setbacks and land uses. In the Downtown Core, the City also has Built Form Standards to provide urban design direction and guidance for proposed developments. The private landowners, developers and their architects still have freedom of design of their lands within the general parameters defined within the City’s Zoning By-laws.
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What is the city doing to stop excessive noise from the cars in the downtown area and with the speeding around parks and kid's playgrounds? Does the city look into solutions such as speed bumps or "noise cameras" that can automatically detect noise and protect the community and kids from the road? Therefore, does the future housing and condo developers targeting foreign investors or it will turn the market towards the Canadian working class?
Denis asked about 4 years agoThank you for sharing your feedback. The City of Mississauga recognizes that vehicle noise can be disruptive. In August, City Council took action to address vehicle noise by amending the Noise Control By-law to prohibit anyone from making unnecessary noise in stationary and moving motor vehicles and increasing the set fine. The City is also working with Peel Regional Police to address vehicle noise. During the month of July, Peel Police laid 170 charges in Mississauga for vehicle noise offences as part of “Project Noisemaker”. The City has looked into “noise cameras” as part of the Noise Control Program Review, but due to the financial impact of COVID-19, any recommendations that will involve new funding cannot be implemented until Phase 2.
Traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, are considered if a concern is raised regarding speeding or aggressive driving. Our Road Safety Unit will conduct a study to determine the appropriate response. If there is an area of specific concern, please contact 311 with details and City staff will undertake an appropriate review. The Downtown Movement Plan will make recommendations to make Downtown streets safer and more comfortable for all.
The City recognizes the need for various housing and more affordable housing options in Mississauga and the Downtown Core. The City’s Housing Strategy (Making Room for the Middle) identifies priorities and recommendations for affordable housing. We will be supporting these policies and identifying recommendations for affordable housing through the Downtown Strategy as well as through the Official Plan Review.
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Could the Burnhamthorpe bike trail get signalized ride-through crossings through the downtown core? (And perhaps in more areas beyond what's already there)
Ben asked about 4 years agoA key component of the DMP will be recommendations for cycling infrastructure improvements. Also, we are continually improving the Burnhamthorpe Multi-Use Trail as opportunities come up. For example whenever extensive signal or intersection work has to be done, we’ll take the opportunity to add bicycle cross-rides, including signaling, such as when the section east of Dixie Road was reconstructed. Recently the Erindale GO station entrance was upgraded with bike signals, and the Erin Mills Parkway intersection is currently being upgraded. Future developments planned for the Downtown that affect intersections, such as the Hurontario LRT, and developments to the west will also trigger similar improvements.
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Are the changes to the Downtown following the Growth Plan for the GGH?
Sam asked over 4 years agoThe Downtown Strategy seeks to provide an update to the City of Mississauga’s Downtown 21 Master Plan, which is 10 years old. All plans in Mississauga are in line with the City’s Official Plan, the Region of Peel Official Plan and the Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2020.
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What is the city doing to improve walkability and preserve green space around downtown? Particularly around Kariya park and Fairview Public School, where it's feeling less and less walkable with each new hi-rise.
Resistent asked over 4 years agoThank you for sharing your feedback and concern. The Downtown Strategy will be identifying ways to improve walkability and strengthen the network of greenspaces in the Downtown Core. We will be conducting a detailed movement study for the Downtown Core, which will help us identify areas for improvement. More details about this study will be posted here, on the project website, with further opportunities to provide input into the development of the Downtown Strategy.
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What is the city doing about more employment jobs and more upscale restaurants for Downtown area?
dsk asked over 4 years agoWe currently have a Downtown Community Improvement Plan in place, to incentivize office development in the Downtown. You can read more about that here. Through the Downtown Strategy, we are identifying potential recommendations to help grow employment and social opportunities in the Downtown.
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We are considering downsizing from a single detached house to a condo. Most condos are very small in size in the city center area. It would be good to have more larger condo units to choose from for people that want to downsize, but don't want to live in very small units. Can developers consider larger units 1400-1800 sq ft. or more townhouses in the city center area. . It would be good to have more mix housing options for downsizing.
dsk asked over 4 years agoThere are currently a mix of housing sizes in the Downtown Core, including bachelor, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. With the growing number of families living in the Downtown, we are identifying opportunities to support a variety of housing options.
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What is the city doing to decrease car usage in Downtown? Are there modal share targets and initiatives to do so? If cars are being used as a primary form of transportation (say 50% modal share), I'd suggest that it should be aimed at <30% or Downtown will be drowned in traffic and unsustainable for residents and the environment.
Petrovna asked over 5 years agoOur recently released Transportation Master Plan (http://mississaugamoves.ca) found that 29% of trips to, from, or within Mississauga use a sustainable mode of travel (where sustainable modes are those other than driving). An objective of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is to have half of Mississauga trips use a sustainable mode by 2041 (see page 83). Ninety-one Action Items are presented in the TMP and are designed to achieve the TMP’s objectives, including the City’s sustainable mode share target.
Action #11 (page 96) calls for a Mode Share Study. This study will set mode targets for specific geographic areas of the City. Although there is not a mode share target for the Downtown at this time, it is anticipated that the Downtown will be one of the first geographic areas of the city to receive one.
The City’s current vision for the Downtown is for a vibrant civic, cultural, and economic centre for Mississauga. Providing viable and attractive multi-modal options is at the heart of this endeavour. Current plans (including the Downtown21 Master Plan) aim to transform the Downtown into a high quality, pedestrian-friendly, and human-scaled environment. Auto-dependence will be reduced by introducing new dedicated transit, including the Hurontario LRT, as well as dedicated cycling facilities and an improved pedestrian network. Updates to the Downtown21 Master Plan, in part through the Downtown Strategy, are anticipated to reiterate these aims.
Follow Project
Who's Listening
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Project Lead |Planner, City of Mississauga
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Project Lead | T&W/Transportation Planning
Key Dates
Document Library
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Downtown Movement Plan (DMP)
- DMP Phase 2 Public Engagement Feedback Report (July 18, 2022) (12.1 MB) (pdf)
- DMP Virtual Open House Live Meeting Slides | June 2022 (4.11 MB) (pdf)
- DMP Virtual On-Demand Meeting Slides | June 2022 (2.41 MB) (pdf)
- DMP Phase 1 Public Engagement Feedback Report (Nov. 13, 2020) (5.33 MB) (pdf)
- DMP Virtual On-Demand Meeting Slides | September 2020 (4.76 MB) (pdf)
- Notice of Commencement (155 KB) (pdf)
- What We Heard
- Background Documents
- Information_Report_(Wards_4_and_7)_ -_Downtown_Urban_Growth_Centre_Office_Retention (1.48 MB) (pdf)
Videos
- On May 31st, the City launched a 3-week virtual public engagement for the Downtown Movement Plan. As part of this engagement, on June 9th, the City and its consultants held a virtual meeting where they presented the work completed on the project so far. This presentation included the evaluated alternatives and the draft preferred transportation network.
Timeline
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Phase 1: Understanding Downtown Mississauga today
Downtown Strategy has finished this stageSummer - Fall 2019
Gather insights and identify strengths
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Phase 2: Defining the future
Downtown Strategy has finished this stageFall 2022 - Spring 2023- Confirm priorities, reviewed public feedback, and streamline Downtown Strategy policies
- Draft Downtown Strategy Policy Framework Summary document
- Integrated Downtown Strategy Policies into Chapter 12 (Strategic Growth Areas) of the Draft Official Plan Review
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Phase 3: How do we get there
Downtown Strategy is currently at this stageSpring 2023 - Winter 2023
- Review feedback on draft Downtown Strategy
- Finalize policies
- Statutory public meeting