Brampton councillors have decided to postpone a decision on whether or not to approve a controversial townhouse development that has divided a community.

A vote at the March 27 council meeting would have determined if a staff recommendation for developer Metrus’s updated plan to build 333 towhnouses in the Springdale community, would be approved.

After a vote at Wednesday’s Committee of Council meeting the full council meeting to decide the next step will now be held either April 16 or 18 to accommodate the hundreds of residents expected to show up.

Councillor Vicky Dhillon supports residents, mostly Punjabi Canadians, who are against the development. He said that townhouses would bring down the property values of much larger homes that surround the site.

He also said that residents, many of whom live with parents and extended families don’t want “tiny” homes that are “not suitable for this community”. Dhillon and some residents also said that overcrowding in area schools is an issue, as well as a promised commercial development that would bring jobs.

Councillor John Sprovieri, who also represents the area, said the developer was already told to scale down its original plan for 446 townhomes. That concession, along with land for a library, a waterpark, other green space and a centre for seniors and daycare, will all be lost if council goes against the staff recommendation, Sprovieri warns.

The staff recommendation, councillors have pointed out, supports the updated plan because it complies with the province’s growth strategy. Sprovieri and other councillors have tried to tell residents that with the staff recommendation and because of the plan’s compliance with provincial growth objectives, any challenge against the developer at the Ontario Municipal Board will likely be lost.

But Dhillon and many residents say they will fight Metrus at the OMB.

“What residents have to keep in mind is this is going to the (Ontario Municipal Board) regardless what position council takes,” Sprovieri said after the decision was made to postpone the council vote.

Dhillon said that he is happy the postponed meeting will be able to accommodate more residents in the evening, but he said he's concerned that City Hall won't be able to fit all the residents planning to attend.

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