A decision by Mississauga city council is aiming to limit the number of new restaurants at a popular commercial plaza that has been the subject of complaints about noise levels and large gatherings amid parking limitations.
Council passed the bylaw amendment during a city hall meeting on Wednesday restricting the number of restaurants that can operate in Ridgeway Plaza with a goal of reducing the overall number by 15 per cent.
Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney, who represents the area where Ridgeway Plaza is located and is also deputy mayor, told CTV News Toronto the aim is to find a balance between not hurting the businesses currently operating there while also addressing a “parking deficiency” at the plaza.
“There are not enough parking spaces to accommodate the number of restaurants that are in there so over a period of time we are working toward getting parking back to a point where there’s enough room for patrons,” he said.
“This specific bylaw is related to the lack of available parking for restaurants. It’s just not enough to parking to accommodate all the restaurants.”
There are currently more than 100 establishments at Ridgeway Plaza, which opened in 2022. The plaza is a major food destination for Middle Eastern, South Asian, and global cuisines, making it a top attraction for the city. Concerns have been raised about noise levels, as well as parking and traffic issues in the area.
Under the recent bylaw changes, no new restaurants can open at the plaza, and the those currently there will not be able to expand their existing space, Mahoney said, adding that the 15-per-cent reduction would come as businesses naturally close over time.
“What the zoning and bylaw change essentially does is if a restaurant goes out of business, which unfortunately does happen at times, and it switches to another use like a barbershop then down the road it can’t go back to being a restaurant. But if a restaurant does out of business and it was leased out by another restaurant that Is permitted,” he said.
“The zoning law means that over a period of time, it could be two years, it could be three years, we will slowly start to reduce the number of restaurants.”
A study done on behalf of the City of Mississauga found that the lack of parking is part of what has led to an influx of traffic and noise concerns, especially during evening and weekend periods.
More than a year ago, Mississauga council passed a gathering bylaw that stated plaza owners are responsible for ensuring parking lots do not get too full in order to allow emergency vehicles to operate efficiently.
If a condo corporation that owns a plaza fails to adhere to these safety measures, it can be fined up to $100,000 for a nuisance gathering.
“It’s not the responsibility of the city to provide parking for a privately owned plaza, which is a condominium corporation. It is the responsibility of the owners of the plaza to ensure that there is enough parking,” Mahoney said.
He added that the new changes only apply to restaurants, but any other establishment can still open at the plaza.
“We’re not limiting the number of barbershops or if it’s a hair salon or it it’s a dollar store or pharmacy. We’re trying to find a nice mix,” he said.
