Development plans for 'small city' within south Barrie scaled back

Barrie has avoided having a city within a city in its south end.

Council gave final approval Wednesday to rezone 664, 674 and 692 Essa Rd., and 320, 364 and 366 Mapleview Dr. W., to facilitate the future development of 458 residential street and block townhouses — with an additional 66 dwelling units, internal to the proposed townhouses, made optional for prospective purchasers. 

But Coun. Gary Harvey, who represents Ward 7 in this part of Barrie, said June 11 the project wasn’t always this size. 

“The first application was basically creating a small city within a stretch of about 25 acres,” he said. “Thankfully, a new applicant came in and a much more fitting application is now before us.”

A virtual neighbourhood meeting in September 2020 featured a preliminary application, which proposed 2,539 residential units and 28,000 square metres of commercial and institutional uses on the property.

Then, in 2023, it was 1,217 residential units, in buildings of three to 12 storeys, along with commercial and institutional space, together with underground parking.

 

“Also during that time period the provincial and federal direction for housing radically changed,” Harvey said, “so some of the concerns that were raised by a few neighbours obviously are not something we are able to fight or really deal with at this point or time, because of the new direction that we have.”

“It is so difficult sometimes to be sitting in the dual position we have, which is the community representative and also the directors of the board for the city,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall, also on June 11.

“(There’s) direction from the provincial and federal governments on housing, and you’re looking at it from a city-wide perspective as a community representatives,” he added. “And how’s it going to impact the person pulling out of their driveway next door?”

The rezoning council approved Wednesday is from light industrial, general commercial and general commercial with special provisions to mixed use node with special provision, mixed use corridor with special provision, open space and environmental protection.

The variances include setbacks, amenity areas and building height.

The concurrent draft plan of subdivision application would result in the creation of three parcels of land, including a northern and southern development block with a central environmental protection block, which includes a tributary of Bear Creek.

Both the northern and southern blocks are to be developed through a plan of condominium, with internal roads and amenity areas to be privately maintained.

Located on the northeast corner Mapleview Drive West and Essa Road, the land is irregular in shape and is 25.4 acres, with 419 metres fronting along Mapleview Drive West and 367 metres along Essa Road. 

The land is relatively flat with a variety of trees and shrubs, as well as a segment of the Bear Creek tributary, Henderson Creek, which traverses the central portion of the property in an east-west direction.

The property is also located along the Essa Road intensification corridor and is designated medium density in the city’s Official Plan.

“This is probably about four years in the making,” Harvey said of the residential project. “I think this is going to be a very positive addition to the area, opposed to having an empty field or a driving range at this location.

“I think this is going to be a well-received new development," he added. 

City council also approved a bylaw Wednesday to rezone this property.