On January 1, 2010, Bill 196 the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009 came into effect. The legislation extended the southern boundary of Barrie to include 2,293 hectares, or approximately 5,700 acres, of lands previously in the Town of Innisfil.
Your City – Your Say, Plan it Barrie is an integrated approach to planning for the long-term sustainable growth of the City of Barrie. The various land use, servicing and facilities master plans which are to be prepared will enable Barrie to manage where and how the new residents and jobs that are forecasted for the next 25 years are accommodated.
As a starting point for the process, City Council has proposed 10 principles intended to guide future planning initiatives. We are now in the process of planning for our future and this includes determining how best to guide growth and protect our natural environment.
Plan it Barrie will provide residents with an opportunity to provide feedback into the planning process. It is Your City, so have Your Say in its future. Start with finding more out about the principles, attending one of the open houses and then log onto barrie.ca and complete a quick questionnaire to provide your ideas on the long-term plans for Barrie.
Principle 1: That the City of Barrie continue to apply the principle that growth pays for growth to the greatest extent possible within the law.
Principle 2: That municipal services like parks, fire services, roads, water, and wastewater be built at the same time or in advance of the issuance of occupancy.
Principle 3: That all new neighbourhoods and business areas in the City of Barrie be designed to support resource conservation and environmental stewardship to the greatest extent feasible and include the best practices in the use of district energy, water conservation/recycling and sustainable community planning.
Principle 4: That the City of Barrie continue to plan new neighbourhoods with basic services and shops, including “corner stores” and/or local commercial areas.
Principle 5: That new neighbourhoods draw on the strengths of historic neighbourhoods: grid street patterns, public spaces, pedestrian-friendly street design (buildings close to street, tree-lined streets, on-street parking, hidden parking lots, garages in rear lane, narrow and slow speed streets).
Principle 6: That the City of Barrie continue to develop satellite service locations for municipal services in the south end of Barrie to ensure easier access for residents.
Principle 7: That the City of Barrie continue to provide a diversity of housing types in new neighbourhoods.
Principle 8: That the City of Barrie continue to place a high priority on supporting active transportation (walking and cycling) and on accessibility to public transit in all new growth areas.
Principle 9: That all planning efforts for new growth areas occur through extensive consultation with the public, community stakeholders and with the business and development communities.
Principle 10: That the growth in working age residents in the City of Barrie not be allowed to outpace the growth of jobs to ensure the City of Barrie stays a strong economic centre, repatriates employment opportunities for residents and minimizes out-commuting.
Reminder to log onto barrie.ca to complete the questionnaire.
Plan it Barrie - be part of it!