A storm of controversy is brewing in a northwest neighbourhood in Toronto after several residents learned they could lose their homes to a new rail line to Pearson Airport.

Nine home owners received warning this week that their property was too close to the track that will soon become the Metrolinx passageway between Union Station and the airport in Mississauga.

Metrolinx said in the note that the homes would be affected by the construction of a tunnel they were building along the line and would "need to be acquired."

The note suggested they contact Metrolinx to discuss the sale of their home.

"I have been bawling since Monday night. My mother is trying to keep it together, but my parents are ridiculously affected. This is the house that they have lived in for the past 31 years," said Stefanie Polsinelli, 31, who has lived in her family home on Weston Road, between Church and King Streets, since birth.

Polsinelli's childhood home was designed and constructed by her father, an architect. She said it was a shock to come home and find a letter telling the family they could soon be forced out.

‘This isn't just a physical structure. This is a home, this is memories; this is a community," Polsinelli told ctvtoronto.ca. "This is going to affect the entire community."

The three-paragraph letter, she said, was short on details but identified their home as one that would need to be acquired. She said they received another note and a phone call the following day.

"My parents and other Weston residents have attended every meeting about this damn train and never, not once, did they mention that our houses would be affected," she said.

Stephen Lipkus, executive director of Metrolinx's Georgetown South Project, said the homes were not being expropriated. Rather, Metrolinx was reaching out to nine residences along the south of tracks, which were going to be affected by the construction.

"We ultimately concluded that there were a few properties that really do have impacts because they are so close to the corridor," Lipkus told ctvtoronto.ca. "On Monday we sent out notifications to nine of the home owners. There are no others from a potential purchase standpoint that we are considering."

Lipkus said it would be more convenient and, in the long run, affordable for Metrolinx to purchase the homes rather than attempt to work around them.

Considering many people would prefer not to live next to a construction site for a long period of time, selling the homes could be an attractive option. However, it is not the only one.

Lipkus said that Metrolinx would certainly pay for damage to the homes, should someone elect to stay.

"From an engineering standpoint there is really less complexity (to purchase the homes). And complexity means time and cost," Lipkus said.

A meeting between Metrolinx and the community is scheduled for Thursday night.

Coun. Frances Nunziata said she was confused by the letter because it did not appear to give residents any choice but to sell their homes.

"It was very direct. It would upset me. If I received that letter I would be furious. They worded it that way and I don't know why," she said.

She said she has been assured by Metrolinx that the sale of affected houses was voluntary. She has asked for Metrolinx to provide that assurance to residents in writing.

Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne told The Canadian Press that the sale of homes near Weston Road was voluntary. She admitted the letter sent by Metrolinx had confused residents and needed to be explained.

Metrolinx is the government-owned regional transportation agency tasked with developing a region-wide strategy. Construction of the airport link is expected to be completed by 2015.

The rail line running from Union Station to Pearson Airport is one of five light rail transit projects in development across the greater Toronto area.

Polsinelli said her family has been fighting the new train from the start because of the affect it would have on their neighbourhood. She said the community had managed to convince Metrolinx to run their line underground between Church and King Streets and include a pedestrian overpass.

With files from The Canadian Press