A proposed plaza development just south of Streetsville has been given the go-ahead, despite resounding disapproval from residents.

An already bustling neighbourhood, Streetsville and the surrounding area is about to get even busier after an Ontario Municipal Board decision to approve a massive shopping plaza on Mississauga Road, adjacent to Erin Centre Boulevard. The 113,000 square-foot plaza, including four two-storey commercial buildings and a one-storey building, will be more than double the size of any other commercial plazas in the area.

“It seems like we don’t really know what we’re doing to our city,” said Violet Aziz, a 33-year resident of Melody Drive, initially slated to provide an entrance to the plaza.

The OMB has since opted to find another way for vehicles to get in and out of the 460-vehicle capacity parking lot, but details have yet to be finalized. Regardless of access, Aziz is fearful of increased congestion on an already crowded Mississauga Road.

Ward 11 Councillor George Carlson, candid in his response, said “we weren’t being NIMBYs (not in my backyard), there’s just a lot going on with that proposal all crammed into a two-pound bag.

“We wanted to see a smaller one (plaza), they wanted a bigger one. So, there was the rub … and we got our butts kicked (at the OMB),” said Carlson.

The city tried to fight for a cap on how large each building could be – 5,000 square metres of retail and personal service commercial use space – but were rejected by the OMB, who concluded the upgraded size requested by the applicant, Credit Mills Development Corporation (6,500 square metres), did not pose any adverse risks.

Carlson added, the massive structure doesn’t fit in with the character of the area and is sceptical of businesses that may end up on the second storey floors.

“You know, the low end junk … massage parlours, things like that.”

Credit Mills Development Corp. claimed the proposal is “consistent” with the provincial policy statement and growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.