City councillors in Mississauga have voted against a motion that would have allowed fourplexes to be built across the city.
In a five-to-five tie vote on October 11, councillors struck down the motion from Councillor Alvin Tedjo, which was seconded by Councillor Carolyn Parrish. Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who is on leave to campaign for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, did not vote.
The motion would have permitted four units as-of-right across Mississauga, a move that Tedjo said would help to address the "missing middle" and boost housing supply across the city.
Calling Council’s decision a "setback," Tedjo said he was disappointed, but committed to continue working to build more homes in Mississauga.
"Crisis can’t be solved when Municipal Councils won’t even ‘approve in principle’ fourplexes in 80% of neighbourhoods in GTA where lot sizes and set backs are adequate!" Parrish posted on X after the vote. "We MUST do more for our youth! Exclusionary Zoning has to go."
Last week, federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser urged Mayor Crombie to permit fourplexes as part of Mississauga’s application to the Housing Accelerator Fund.
In a statement to STOREYS, Crombie alluded to meeting Fraser’s request, noting that permitting fourplexes would allow Mississauga to "meet the diverse housing needs" of its residents, while also helping the city unlock $120M in funding through the HAF.
Following Wednesday's vote Fraser called Council's decision "very concerning."
Canada is in a housing crisis.
More than ever, we need cities to legalize housing by getting rid of antiquated approaches to zoning.
Mississauga City Council's move to reject key initiatives that would help create the homes the City needs is very concerning. https://t.co/OfWEUtAZfH
— Sean Fraser (@SeanFraserMP) October 11, 2023
As part of their HAF agreements, Vaughan and Hamilton have both agreed to amend zoning by-laws to allow for up to four residential units on one lot. It is unclear whether Mississauga will reach a HAF agreement in the absence of fourplexes.
