A 49-acre residential subdivision for northern Brampton has been approved by the city's planning and development committee in a 6-5 vote.

Area residents packed Brampton City Hall on Monday, Dec. 2, and 16 delegates attended to speak against the draft plan for the 360-unit subdivision, slated for the southwest corner of Mayfield and Kennedy roads.

Over 680 residents signed petitions against development, which would consist of 182 single-detached homes, 178 townhouses, a park, natural heritage system and two stormwater management ponds.

City and regional staff received more than 100 emails expressing concerns, including high housing density, increased traffic, traffic congestion and potential overcrowding of local schools. On Nov. 19, about 300 Snelgrove-Heart Lake area residents also packed a town hall to voice opposition.

"It's shocking," said Tiere Sharma, a Heart Lake resident who spoke Monday evening. "We were hoping we could come to some sort of compromise. It doesn't seem as if residents' concerns are on the forefront."

Glenn Shnarr and Associates and Partacc Gate Kennedy Developments Inc. placed an original application for 382 units, filed in Oct. 2017, in abeyance and reapplied with the current plan in April.

"There has been overwhelming opposition shown by the community that will be directly affected by this development and I am disappointed with the outcome," said Ward 2 Coun. Michael Palleschi in an emailed statement. "The applications proposed by the developer are contrary to our City’s Official Plan, a plan that was our Community’s Vision."

Residents in support noted the townhomes would be more affordable options for first-time homebuyers hoping to stay in the area, and praised the esthetics of the draft designs.

"Land is a valuable commodity," added local resident David Laing. "We must bring as much value out of it as possible."

Wards 3 and 4 Coun. Martin Medeiros, chair of the committee, voted in favour of the project. He told The Guardian he was disappointed fellow councillors "played politics" on a development in line with the city's need for housing that was technically sound and approved by city staff.