Neighbourhood pushes back against ‘unprecedented’ high-rise plans in Cambridge
Posted Sep 12, 2025 07:09:32 AM.
Last Updated Sep 12, 2025 10:14:13 AM.
A proposed high-rise development slated for the southeast area of Galt is receiving pushback from the local neighbourhood, raising concerns about the once 5-storey development, which is now potentially set to more than double in size.
The project is currently pegged for 1280 Dundas St. S, right at the corner of Branchton Rd., and was originally expected to stand at five storeys and 65 units.
The developer for the project is now requesting a rezoning of the area, pushing from the low-medium density project up to a 13-storey, 88-unit high-rise, more than doubling the size of the development while only adding an additional 23 units.
“This request is unprecedented in this area of Cambridge and is extremely out of context for our neighbourhood,” said Patricia Shurrie, who lives nearby on Shadywood Lane. “If you drive down Branchton, then you will simply see single-family houses, and along Dundas are mostly farms.”
Shurrie was one of the multiple delegates who attended a recent Cambridge council meeting, all looking to have their voices heard on their displeasure with the project and the proposed changes.
While various concerns were raised during the meeting, Shurrie pointed to the fact that the neighbourhood simply isn’t ready to hold such a high-rise.
“I didn’t leave working in downtown Toronto, which is the heart of city living, and move out to the suburbs of Cambridge, to now live amongst high rises. I do feel that this application, although it’s only one application, will set a precedent for further development within the neighbourhood.”
One of the other major concerns was focused on the increased traffic and congestion a development like this could cause, with Erica Beer, another member of the local community, saying there are already dangerous drivers seen in the area.
She stated that it would make an already busy portion of the city that much more dangerous.
“There’s still potential for over 100 cars trying to exit at rush hour,” Beer said. “Before the traffic light, with the addition of Faith Street, it was next to impossible to exit on Branchton onto Dundas. We had a major car accident. Will the intersection be able to handle the new volume? Speeds are still close to 80 kilometres an hour.”
Beer went on to discuss other issues, particularly focused on the impact on the environmental space needing to be cleared for the project. She said the development would lead to the loss of 44 trees, as well as damage to local wetlands, increasing the risks for flooding in the neighbourhood in the process.
Various concerns were mentioned across the list of delegates, including overall safety and privacy, with Beer saying, “I’ll now have 12 storeys worth of eyes on my property and no privacy.” She stated that this will greatly reduce the property value of her own and other properties across the community.
A letter delivered to councillors from Linda Albright-Thiel, another community member, stated that Cambridge is not prepared or wanting to move in a similar direction to other larger cities.
“Please keep this piece of land free from any development and leave the property and nature alone. Why are we trying to turn our beautiful city into that of Toronto or Hamilton?”
City councillors also voiced a few of their own concerns, with Mayor Jan Liggett pointing to the traffic issues potentially caused by the location of the entrance and exit of the proposed property.
Councillor Scott Hamilton also discussed remodelling the project to better accommodate larger units for potential families due to the number of schools in the close vicinity to the project, including Moffat Creek Public School and Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School.
No set decisions were made during the council meeting, with staff and the developer both asking for additional time to produce a more refined application before resubmitting recommendations to council again in the future.
