Barrie has a strong case to pursue the annexation of land from neighbouring municipalities to develop "comprehensive" communities complete with residential and commercial developments, according to a report from an independent consultant.
The report, commissioned by all the municipalities involved and whose summary was obtained by QP Briefing, says the city has a "relatively strong" argument to annex lands from Oro-Medonte and Springwater to allow for "community/employment area uses," as opposed to simply absorbing "employment" lands.
The city would need an additional 2,298 acres of usable land if it follows “typical suburban density" as outlined by the province, according to the report.
Mayor Nuttall has argued that the city’s limited 220 serviceable acres of employment land could hinder its economic growth. The annexation, he says, would attract investment, create jobs, and boost Barrie’s reputation as a regional economic hub.
“Without a border adjustment, more residents will be forced to commute outside of Barrie for work,” Nuttall said in an unrelated event in March this year. He also said that the boundary expansion could bring an estimated 20,000 jobs to the area over the next two decades.
But the proposed expansion has faced resistance from both Oro-Medonte and Springwater, which stand to lose parcels of land adjoining the City of Barrie.
According to the report, the land in Oro-Medonte shouldn't exclusively be slated for commercial development but rather should be a blend of community and employment areas.
Oro-Medonte, however, lacks the capacity to serve significant new developments, and wants Barrie to step in and provide servicing.
Nuttall has said his city, unlike its neighbours, has the infrastructure and resources to serve these new developments but for planning purposes, they should be inside Barrie's borders.
Springwater council has been divided on its approach to the proposed annexation, with some calling for negotiations with Barrie and others pushing for further studies that would delay any resolution.
Premier Doug Ford weighed in on the issue back in March, during a visit to Barrie where he announced $6.3 million in funding for the city through the provincial Building Faster Fund. The funding reward came after Barrie exceeded its housing targets for 2023, with 1,716 new housing units breaking ground compared to the goal of 1,687.
At the time, Ford said all municipalities should work together on the issue.
"I do not know why they're not cooperating. It's going to benefit your community,” Ford said.
Ford also said that Barrie has the infrastructure — including water and wastewater systems — to support growth, which its neighbors lack.
The report will be handed over to a facilitator tasked by the province to oversee negotiations between the municipalities.
More to come...