Mississauga moves to cap restaurant numbers at Ridgeway plaza after years of complaints

January 15, 2026

RED FM News Desk

Mississauga city council has approved new zoning rules aimed at curbing restaurant growth at Ridgeway Plaza, a busy west-end commercial hub that has drawn ongoing complaints from nearby residents since opening.

The bylaw amendment, passed Wednesday, places a cap on the number of restaurant uses permitted within the plaza and prevents existing eateries from expanding their floor space. City staff estimate the total number of restaurants could decline by about 15 per cent over time as tenancies change and businesses turn over.

The move follows years of concerns raised by residents and repeated enforcement issues related to traffic congestion, limited parking, excessive noise, and public safety. Ridgeway Plaza, located at the intersection of Ridgeway Drive and Eglinton Avenue West, opened in 2022 and has quickly become a regional draw.

With more than 100 food establishments, the plaza attracts visitors from across the GTA and has become a hotspot for late-night activity, particularly on weekends. City officials say that level of activity has strained surrounding infrastructure and affected quality of life in nearby neighbourhoods.

Under the new rules, existing restaurants will be allowed to continue operating, but no additional restaurant uses will be permitted beyond the newly established limit. Expansion of current businesses within the plaza will also be prohibited.

Some business owners have pushed back against the decision. A petition submitted to council warned the restrictions could lead to job losses and reduced revenues, especially for small and family-run restaurants that rely on high customer volumes.

City officials, however, say the zoning changes are intended as a long-term solution to stabilize conditions at Ridgeway Plaza while still allowing it to function as a major commercial destination in Mississauga.

According to municipal records, more than 100 complaints related to the property have been logged since 2022, a figure cited by the city as evidence of the need for tighter controls.