One of the largest data centres in the Greater Toronto Area is being proposed for vacant land in a Mississauga business park.
Property owner Prologis is proposing three buildings— the two-storey data centre and two, one-storey industrial buildings—for vacant land on Tenth Line West in the Meadowvale Business Park, just south of Highway 401, at the border with Halton Region.
Prologis operates multiple industrial properties and warehouses in 20 countries.
The land, previously agricultural fields, was part of the Hustler family farm property. It was sold about a year ago as the fields were reportedly not needed to continue operations. The historical farm dates back to 1838.
The two new distribution facility buildings and a data centre will add over 850,000 square feet of employment area to the business park, Prologis said in its report to the March 30 Planning and Development Committee meeting.
The development proposals are in two applications, the industrial buildings on the left and the data centre on the right. Map: City of Mississauga
The data centre would be 219,994 square feet. To put that into perspective, the Rogers Centre (previously Skydome) roof is 339,343 square feet.
Prologis describes the data centre as a “secure facility that stores and processes digital information.”
It is a technology building accommodating computer servers and an office area.
Typically, data centres support banking, healthcare systems, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and business operations.
Prologis owns 1.2 million square feet of space within three distribution facility buildings in the business park that are occupied by Lululemon, Ikea and Farrow Logistics, the company said.
A large data centre and two industrial buildings are proposed for the area marked as Phase 2 in the Meadowvale Business Park. Map: Prologis
While there are still more details needed to approve the applications, Ward 9 Coun. Martin Reid expressed support for the development.
“I am excited about having this in the Meadowvale Business Park and what that means for information and technology coming to Mississauga,” said Ward 9 Coun. Martin Reid. “From what I understand, this is going to be one of the biggest data centres in the GTA. Great for the tax impact and fantastic in terms of what is going to happen for employment.”
Planning staff asked to continue working with Prologis to resolve issues on the applications.
Staff wants the data centre plan re-designed so the main entrance, office and parking face Tenth Line West, Connor Di Pietro, a city development planner, said at the March 30 planning meeting.
A rendering of the proposed data centre. Rendering: Prologis
The site for the two, one-story industrial buildings falls within Conservation Halton’s East Sixteen Mile Creek Flood Hazard Mapping Study. Drawings need to be updated to show all natural hazards and required setbacks in order to determine the area that can be developed, Di Pietro said.
A rendering of one of the industrial buildings. Rendering: Prologis
Staff also need additional technical information and resolution of issues pertaining to engineering, and servicing and storm water management, he said.
The Planning and Building Department will make a recommendation on the project once the issues have been addressed.
Staff will continue to work with the developer on the proposals, and the projects will come back to council for consideration at a later date.
For more information, see the meeting agenda and reports here.
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