Proposed 40-storey tower in Preston grilled by councillors, residents
Posted May 8, 2026 07:43:40 AM.
Last Updated May 8, 2026 10:49:23 AM.
A pair of plans that could shape the future of Preston were grilled by residents and councillors at a public meeting on Tuesday.
The City of Cambridge hosted public delegations and presentations on a 40-storey tower proposed on King Street East and the Preston Secondary Plan. Scott Patterson of Patterson Planning Consultants, the planners behind the proposed tower project, made a presentation to council at the meeting.
Patterson was grilled by councillors before the public had a chance to weigh in on the proposal. The impacts that the project could have on traffic in that area of Preston and on the character of the neighbourhood in general were central points of contention.
The report from the planning consultants claims that “the proposed development is forecast to have a negligible impact on traffic operations at the four intersections surrounding the site.”
“We need to get the region or the province in there to do a proper traffic flow study,” said Councillor Mike Devine. “You might as well come down there with a horse and buggy, because that’s how quick you’re going to be going.”
Residents echoed the sentiments of council.
“This proposal impractically seeks to shoehorn 1,000-plus residents contained in a single towering building, and located on a tiny footprint, in a community of significantly fewer residents living in single-family detached dwellings,” said Preston resident John McNie, owner of a building next door to the proposed tower.
The developer is looking to amend the zoning for the lot and the official community plan to accommodate a taller building than what’s currently allowed. If approved, the build would bring 475 residential units and some commercial space at the base of the building.
The Preston Secondary Plan also met some resistance from residents.
The plan offers insight into how the city will approach development in that part of the city in the coming years. There’s set to be a focus on high-density builds along King Street East, and a revitalization of Preston Town Centre.
The city will look to take advantage of the future light-rail connections by approving high-rise and high-density residential builds along Hespeler Road and in Preston in the coming years, with a focus on tall towers that offer commercial space at street level.
“Really, it’s not a plan for Preston, or the people of Preston, it’s a plan for how to accommodate transit,” said Preston resident Gregory Lang.
The city is set to host a public meeting for the Hespeler Road Secondary Plan after the council meeting on Tuesday, May 12.
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