On behalf of, Blackstone…

On behalf of, Blackstone Property Inc. (BPI) we are pleased to submit comments regarding the County of Simcoe Official Plan Amendment No. 7, which was adopted by County Council on August 9, 2022 by By-law No. 6977 and is currently before the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision under the Planning Act.

We request that the Province expand the Alliston East Settlement Area Boundary to include the subject lands. This letter provides an overview of the subject lands and an analysis of the settlement area expansion policies from the Growth Plan and the proposed County OPA No. 7 and planning rationale to support the settlement area boundary expansion (SABE) relative to the subject lands.

In February 2022, BPI submitted a request for SABE for the lands municipally known as 551414th Line (subject lands) in New Tecumseth, Simcoe County (as shown on Figure 1; see attached SABE request to Simcoe County, dated July 26, 2021 and corresponding email dated February 18, 2022). The subject lands were added to the County’s inventory of sites with development interest for its ongoing Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR). The subject lands are approximately 414,039.83 m² (41.4 hectares) and are located north of 14th Line, west of 15th Sideroad, just east of the built-up area of Alliston.

In our opinion, the SABE request pertaining to the subject lands is consistent with relevant provincial, regional and local policies. We believe that the subject lands are in an ideal location to be included within the settlement area boundary. The subject lands provide convenient access to arterial roads, are located approximately 600 metres south of Highway 89 and just east of the existing Alliston Settlement Area Boundary, in close proximity to existing residential areas. The subject lands can be serviced with water supply and sanitary infrastructure and will benefit from planned transit infrastructure. The subject lands are appropriate for land use designation change and will allow the province and municipality to meet its targeted growth to 2051.

Please find a planning rationale and policy analysis and supporting documents attached.

Regards,

David Sajecki
MCIP, RPP, B.Eng., LEED AP
Partner, Sajecki Planning Inc.