Council Meeting
Previews & Highlights
Previews and highlights of upcoming and recent City Council and General Committee meetings, posted weekly on Fridays and Tuesdays.
General Committee and City Council meetings air and stream live on
Rogers Television. Formal channels to communicate with City Council include Circulation List and Deputations.
HIGHLIGHTS: Planning Committee
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January, 21, 2020
Full agenda
Public Meetings
Application for a Zoning Bylaw amendment - The Jones Consulting Group Ltd. on behalf of 440 Essa Developments Inc. - 440 Essa Rd. (Ward 6)
A Public Meeting was held on a rezoning application to facilitate the development of an 8 storey mixed-use residential and commercial building at 440 Essa Rd. in Barrie.
It would contain 194 residential rental apartments (75 of them affordable rental) and ground-floor commercial space, along with 258 underground and surface parking spaces (80% of them underground).
Special provisions would include a reduced front-yard setback, but enlarged side- and rear-yard setbacks.
This 1.23-acre property is located on the east side of Essa Road, between Ferndale Drive and Harvie Road. It is now occupied by a gas station, a restaurant and a U-Haul pickup and drop-off location. Planning staff are targeting early April of 2020 for a staff report on this rezoning application coming to General Committee.
Application for a Zoning Bylaw amendment - MHBC Planning on behalf of 1701390 Ontario Ltd. and 1701391 Ontario Ltd. - 658 and 662 Mapleview Dr. E. (Ward 9)
A Public Meeting was held on a rezoning application for 658 and 662 Mapleview Dr. E. in Barrie.
The application is to change the zoning to mixed-use node from residential single-detached first density, although a development concept has not been proposed as part of the application.
This 1.2-acre property is located on the north side of Mapleview Drive East, between Goodwin Drive and Yonge Street, within a City intensification area. A staff report on the rezoning application is anticipated to come to General Committee in April of 2020.
Staff Reports/Motions
All motions will be considered for approval by Barrie City Council at its January 27, 2020 meeting.
Application for a Zoning Bylaw amendment (2591451 Ontario Inc.) - 829 Essa Rd. (Ward 7)
Planning Committee denied a motion that 829 Essa Rd. in Barrie be rezoned to mixed-use corridor with special provisions from residential multiple first density.
A concept plan illustrates 10 street townhouses on 0.03 acres of land at the corner of Essa Road and Athabaska Road. Surrounding land uses are single-detached residential and City-owned light industrial land. This property is located on the west side of Essa Road, at the northwest corner of the Essa/Athabaska intersection, and is within the Ardagh Planning Area.
Application for Zoning Bylaw amendment (DiPoce Innisfil Inc.) - 8001 County Road 27 (Ward 7)
A rezoning to facilitate the development of 280 to 395 residential units at 8001 County Road 27 in Barrie was approved by Planning Committee.
It will permit 194 street townhouses, 6 future townhouses, 86 to 201 units on three medium-density residential blocks and commercial uses. The development will also include a neighbourhood park, a public elementary school and 18 acres of natural heritage land.
This 66-acre parcel is located on the east side of County Road 27, north of Salem Road and south of Selkirk Crescent and Lougheed Road.
HIGHLIGHTS: General Committee
7 P.M., Monday, January 20, 2020
Full agenda
Presentation concerning Intensification
General Committee heard a presentation addressing Barrie's increasing growth pressures. The City has developed policies and guidelines which direct the type of development envisioned for some of Barrie's built sectors, called intensification areas. Intensification means developing an area at a higher density than what currently exists through infill and expansion or conversion of existing buildings, development and redevelopment. Barrie's population is expected to increase to 210,000 people by 2031.
Presentation concerning an Advance Property Purchase Policy
A presentation was heard by General Committee on an Advance Property Purchase Policy. Infrastructure projects sometimes require the City to acquire ownership of an entire property in order for the project to proceed. Typically there are phases for pre-design, design, property acquisition, utility relocation and construction - but each of the phases can take 1-2 years. Delays in the property acquisition can create hardship for the landowner.
Motions
All motions will be considered for approval by Barrie City Council at its January 27, 2020 meeting.
Official Plan (OP) development process - cultural heritage evaluation
General Committee approved a motion that Development Services Department staff explore the feasibility of including the requirement for a cultural heritage evaluation for development applications as part of the development of the new OP. This evaluation measures the cultural heritage of a property, to identify any significant heritage resources on the site or adjacent to it.
The words 'within the Historic Neighbourhoods' were removed from the motion by General Committee. Barrie's Historic Neighbourhoods surround the city centre to the north and west of the downtown, to the west of Centennial Beach and south of Southshore Community Centre.
Allandale Station Park naturalization plan
A motion that City staff consider prioritizing an Allandale Station Park naturalization plan as part of the 2021 Business Plan was approval by General Committee. Also, Operations Department staff will work with community partners to complete the preparation work in 2020 - including a management plan for this parkland area. It could include enhanced native plant and tree species, fruit trees, Tall Grass Prairie restoration plots, native wildflowers and natural heritage education.
Advance Property Purchase (all Wards)
General Committee approved a motion that the Advance Property Purchase Policy be approved. The policy will advance the purchase of property for a City infrastructure project that is in the first 5 years of Barrie's Capital Plan. This will apply to residential properties where the owner is one of the primary residents. This purchase will take place in the next budget year. Infrastructure projects can require the City to buy an entire property, but delays in acquiring the property's can create a hardship for the landowner.
Sale of unopened portion of Foster Drive (Ward 8)
A motion to sell the unopened portion of Foster Drive to 428 Little Inc., so it can be merged with adjoining land to be used as an access road to a new townhouse development, was approved by General Committee. The buyer requires a rezoning of this property and site plan approval for this proposed development. The purchase price for this City property will be $25,100. Foster Drive is located between Yonge Street and Hurst Drive in Barrie, east of Minet's Point Road.
Items for discussion
Cancellation of the February 24, 2020 General Committee meeting - By-election for Ward Three
General Committee approved a motion that its meeting scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2020 be cancelled due to it being the final Voting Day for the Ward Three By-election. It's to replace Doug Shipley, who resigned as Ward Three Councillor after being elected Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP in the Oct. 21, 2019 federal election. This motion is sponsored by Deputy Mayor Barry Ward.
Removal of Well Played and Well Connected from gateway signs
A motion that Access Barrie staff make arrangements to remove Well Played and Well Connected from the northbound and southbound gateway signs, at a cost of as much as $2,000 to be funded from the Council Strategic Priorities Reserve, was approved by General Committee. This motion is sponsored by Councillor Sergio Morales.
Transition to full producer responsibility
General Committee approved a motion that if an extension to the waste services collection contract can be negotiated, the City would like to transition its Blue Box program to full producer responsibility effective May 1, 2024. This means full financial and operational responsibility by producers of packaging, paper and paper products, making producers responsible for managing waste generated from their products and packaging. This motion is sponsored by Mayor Jeff Lehman.
Invitation to present - Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA)
A motion that NVCA officials be invited to a Barrie City Council meeting to present an update on their initiatives and programs was approved by General Committee. This motion is sponsored by Councillor Gary Harvey.
Invitation to present - Making Change Across Simcoe County - Black History Month
General Committee approved a motion that the Making Change Across Simcoe County Ad-hoc Organization be invited to a Barrie City Council meeting to make a presentation concerning Black History Month. This motion is sponsored by Deputy Mayor Barry Ward.
Banning the use of single-use plastics in the Corporation of the City of Barrie
A motion that Business Performance and Environmental Sustainability Branch staff investigate the feasibility of banning the use of single-use plastics in the Corporation of the City of Barrie, its facilities and events which require a City permit, and report back to General Committee, was approved by General Committee. Staff will also explore methods to phase in a ban for businesses in Barrie. This motion is sponsored by Councillor Robert Thomson and Councillor Jim Harris.
Smart City Summit and Expo - Taipei, Taiwan
General Committee approved a motion that Councillor Mike McCann be authorized to attend the Smart City Summit and Expo in Taipei, Taiwan, to be held March 24-27, 2020, and that all related expenses be covered directly by Councillor McCann. This motion is sponsored by Councillor Robert Thomson.