Studio proposal has Mississauga dreaming big
Mississauga City Council is pursuing a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) in order to build a film studio.
The city received a proposal at its May 5 council meeting from Studio Bottega Inc. to build a purpose-built studio on more than six hectares of land in its Gateway Corporate Centre in the southeast end. The proposed development will include two four-storey buildings, each providing six stages for production services, along with service towers, offices, stage support and mill facilities. The total project would span nearly 455,000 square feet.
If built, the facility would be the largest of its kind in the province. The city estimates that the project will create nearly 3,300 construction jobs, and cost more than $300 million to build. Once operational, the facility could attract nearly 5,600 permanent jobs and generate $530 million in annual revenue.
“We’re so thrilled about the potential of adding another film studio to Mississauga and what it could mean for the City in terms of job creation and strengthening our film and performing arts sectors,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie.
Standing in the way of the development is the property’s zoning. The Gateway Corporate Centre was recently redesignated and rezoned to office, and would have to be changed to accommodate the new facility.
The city can make that change itself through an official plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment, but doing so could take in excess of nine months. That’s too long for the studio, and could put the project at risk. An MZO, however, would expedite the process. The project says an MZO can be used by municipalities, “only when it will provide public benefits including affordable housing, public health improvements and significant job creation.”
The process is not without risk, however. An MZO allows the province to decide what projects can be built on a given site. The province’s decision is final, and cannot be appealed. And while there was strong support for the move to request an MZO at the council meeting, city politicians are aware that Mississauga has not had fantastic luck on previous applications.
"I'm 100 percent in support of this,” said Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish. “I know we're opposed to MZOs on principle but…it won't be some big warehouse looking thing right on Hurontario. I think it's a great idea. We have a film and movie sector growing and this will be the icing on the cake. As the local councillor, I'm absolutely delighted with this."
Crombie said that while she supports the project, the idea of submitting an MZO makes her nervous.
"We have a bad track record with MZOs," she said. "If we go out on a limb and ask for another MZO, what kind of luck will we have with this? This is a great project and initiative, but my scepticism is around whether the province will grant an MZO. As much as we would like to assist, I don't know what our ability is. I want to see this open, I think this is a great project."