​​​​​​​​The Mount Pleasant Community (Block Plan 51-1 in the Mount Pleasant Secondary Plan) represents one of the most unique development projects in the City of Brampton. The future residential community involves the protection, creation and enhancement of over 100 ha (250 ac.) of Natural Heritage System lands. The community will feature neighbourhood centres - prominent nodes with mixed-uses and higher density residential that will strengthen the urban structure and define the character of the surrounding low density neighbourhoods. A Spine Road will link the community from north to south and, most importantly, to the Mount Pleasant Village ‘Mobility Hub’ and GO Station.

Community Vision

The vision for Mount Pleasant is to create a community that is well connected through its road and pathway networks, and to support compact development and healthy active lifestyles. Land uses, community design, housing form and density, open space and natural heritage systems, and recreational amenities such as trails are all intended to support the use of local and regional transit as connected through the Mount Pleasant Village Mobility Hub, GO Station and Brampton's Zum Rapid Transit system that will run along Bovaird Drive to Mississauga Road.

Multiple principles and objectives for the design of this community were established at the outset through the Secondary Plan, and included:

  • Protection and enhancement of the Natural Heritage System;
  • Transit-oriented design (TOD);
  • Defined neighbourhoods with identifiable cores that include retail uses, live/work townhouses located in the Mixed-Use Nodes along the Spine Roads;
  • Pedestrian-scaled neighbourhoods;
  • A variety of housing and building typologies;
  • A hierarchy of open space – the modified park hierarchy that provides a variety of play for all Neighbourhood Parks;
  • The incorporation of trails through the NHS and a complementary on-street network (bike lanes and multi-use paths);
  • Creation of a road network that balances the demands of the auto and bus with the needs of the pedestrian and cyclist.

The Natural Heritage System – The Focal Point of the Community

The Mount Pleasant Community is being developed to respect the existing woodlands and wetlands that have been conserved in the historical agricultural landscape. Through development and stewardship, the Mount Pleasant Community will restore and enhance these individual features, that currently cover approximately 8% (or 41 hectares) of the area, and create a Natural Heritage System that will cover approximately 19% (or 97.6 hectares) of the community. East Huttonville Creek will be realigned and re-vegetated within a defined and enhanced floodplain corridor that will connect the fragmented woodlands and wetlands to provide ecologically diverse and sustainable fish and wildlife habitat. The Community’s Natural Heritage System and adjacent open space system is also intended to connect people via a pathway system to schools, parks, commercial areas and residential neighbourhoods. The pathway system includes the Green Trail along East Huttonville Creek corridor, the TCPL Trail that connects Mount Pleasant to Fletcher’s Meadow (east of Creditview Road) and future Heritage Heights (west of Mississauga Road), and on-street bike paths along the Spine Road.

As development proceeds within the Mount Pleasant Community, the NHS will come into public ownership. The City’s Community Services department will be responsible to manage the NHS, and our goal is to support natural processes and regeneration that are beneficial to the health and diversity of the natural features, functions and habitat. This will generally mean:

  • Planting no-maintenance vegetative buffers between natural areas and private properties, using native trees, shrubs and groundcovers;
  • Not mowing, pruning or spraying natural areas for weeds and insects;
  • Allowing for annual flooding and ponding of water along East Huttonville Creek, and within wetlands and woodlands to maintain a natural hydrology that is critical for plant and wildlife health and diversity;
  • Allowing for the natural loss of vegetation and regrowth of young trees and shrubs;
  • Managing natural areas for invasive species such as Buckthorn and Norway Maple;
  • Managing the urban trees along streets and parks for invasive species such as Emerald Ash Borer.

Homeowner’s Guide - "Protecting and Living with our Shared Natural Environment"

The NHS through Mount Pleasant has been a fundamental structuring element in the design of this community. Its long-term protection will depend on careful management of the features that make up the NHS. Residents and users of the NHS will play a prominent role in helping to protect this area.

The City has worked in collaboration with the area’s developers and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) in the creation of a Homeowner’s Guide. ​The guide provides information on how the NHS will function, how it will be maintained and what residents can do to protect this natural asset.

  • Consider using a permeable surface material such as gravel or interlocking bricks for your driveway and patios that will allow water to soak into the ground. This will reduce the amount of runoff to storm sewers and replenish the groundwater.
  • Plant gardens and consider groundcover alternatives to mowed lawns that require minimal irrigation and will increase the ability of rainfall to increase the ability of rainfall to infiltrate into the ground, resulting in less runoff.
  • Do not use lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers as these can harm the neighbouring natural vegetation, impact the quality of the water that runs off the property and exposes wildlife to potential hazardous materials.
  • Sweep debris such as leaves, dirt and garbage, away from street drains so it won’t clog the storm sewer catch basins or flow into connecting streams and ponds.
  • Do not dump household cleaners, paints or other chemicals down the sink, toiler or storm sewer. These materials may be disposed of at local household hazardous waste depots manage by the Region of Peel.
  • Pet waste that you stoop and scoop (not including kitty litter) should be flushed down the toilet for proper treatment.
  • Install rain barrels to collect rainwater that can be used for watering the garden, while reducing runoff. Rain barrels can be purchased from the Region of Peel.
  • Water conservation should be practiced for all households activities.
  • Maintaining your swimming pool uses chemicals that can kill plants, fish and other small life forms. Direct pool overflow to gravel areas, lawns, swales or soak away areas to allow vegetation or soils to filter out the chemicals before the runoff reaches any rivers, streams or underground water supply.

  • Ensure garbage is stored in animal-proof containers within an enclosed area on your property to prevent animals such as racoons, coyotes, skunks and foxes, as well as household pets, from opening these containers.
  • Depending on location, mosquitoes may be problematic at certain periods during the summer. To make outdoor pursuits more enjoyable during these times, particularly in the evening, you may want to consider screened outdoor seating areas and/or the use of repellent. It should be recognised that mosquitoes are a great sources of food for many species of birds.
  • Do not approach or handle wild animals. Animals which may be docile under normal conditions may react aggressively when approached or handled.
  • Avoid feeding any wild animals apart from birds.
  • Refer to various garden resources to learn how to ward off animals from consuming portions of your garden.
  • When encountering young animals avoid trying to rescue them, as they may not be lost or abandoned and will often be retrieved by their parents.
  • Leash pets when outdoors and/or provide collar bells or warn birds and small animals when being approached.
  • Clean up pet waste to ensure the remains do not affect plant species and other animals.

  • Adjacent natural areas are not extensions of individual residential lots and disturbance should be avoided.
  • Encroachment into public natural areas is not permitted. Keep gardens, compost or structures (sheds, trellises, retaining walls, fences, etc.) within your residential property.
  • Do not dispose of composting, yard waste or soil materials in natural areas. These materials may introduce invasive non-native species that will take over the natural vegetation. Call Peel Region for more information on compost and yard waste disposal.
  • Follow designated trails only and avoid creating additional path connections.
  • Practice low impact recreational and educational activities to avoid tramping on plants and soils.
  • Always ‘stoop and scoop’ and dispose off pet waste properly.
  • Pet dogs and cats are a threat to wildlife and other features of the natural environment. When enjoying the natural areas and trails, dogs should be leashed and kept on the designated trails. Cats should have a bell on their collars to warn birds and other small creatures.

  • Use native species where possible, including: native trees and shrubs for screening and shade; perennial flowers for colour; native groundcover that tolerant of shades areas; native vines to cover walls and fences and provide shelter for birds
  • Consider selecting plants that will provide the following: provide food for birds, animals, butterflies, etc.; provide protection, shade, next or home for wildlife; require minimal or no maintenance with little to no requirement for watering, fertilizers or pesticides; non-invasive plants that may affect other garden planting.

Related Resources