Our family has lived in the…

Our family has lived in the City of Barrie for generations. We own lands located on Penetanguishene Road, north east of Barrie near the intersection of Penetanguishene Road and Georgian Drive. We understand that the City have, with their new Official Plan created goals for expansion and growth to be achieved by the year 2051. Such a drastic increase will surely require expansion of the urban settlement boundaries as a 100% growth in population is not feasible in the current settlement area of the City.

It is our assertion that the area surrounding our lands located north east of Barrie is a prime area for such growth. This area to date has served as a buffer to Oro, however the lands themselves are prime for development with amazing opportunity to develop without the need to impact natural heritage systems in the area, as has been demonstrated by the existing houses and buildings and a number of development applications which have been approved in the area.

For starters, in 2019 at 290 Georgian Drive, less than 1 km from our lands we have seen an application for a 19 storey mixed use building with 376 residential rental units and approximately 350 meters of ground floor commercial space approved.
Another such example is the development is at 10-20 Little Lake Drive, which is comprised of a 4 storey retirement home with 141 units and 7 storey condominium with 137 units.
In terms of existing housing in the area there is the student housing complex known as the “Foundry Georgian” a townhouse community providing housing to a large number of students attending the nearby Georgian College.

All of the developments mentioned above are indicators of the developability of the area. The Provincial Policy Statement, the Growth Plan for the Greater Horseshoe area and even Barrie’s Official Plan urge development to be located in settlement areas in order to take advance of their existing servicing, amenities, facilities, and proximity to Transit.

Our family’s lands as mentioned located along Penetanguishene Road and Georgian Drive are well within the same features that the above mentioned developments rely upon. Within 1 kmof the area in question is Georgian College, a facility that requires nearby housing for its students, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre as well as ease of transit access with Highway 400 being located no more than 2 km away. In addition there is adequate bus transit along Georgian Drive in the area including the 8A RVH/Yonge, the 8B Crosstown/Essa as well as the 100 Red Express.

Further as the goal of both the Province and the City is to increase the diversity of housing in order to aid in affordability this area would be suitable for more diverse and intensified housing. Developments similar to those mentioned above, mixed use condominiums, town house communities, student housing and retirement communities can be accommodated in order to further the growth goals of the City and Province.