Official Plan
The Official Plan is a general policy document that establishes a long range planning blueprint for land uses and resource management within the municipality.
Land uses are identified by designations, under which specific policy direction is given to deal with such matters as type of use, density, massing, community design, and development criteria. In addition, policies related to park systems, transportation, servicing and implementation are outlined within the Official Plan. New developments that do not conform to the plan must seek approval of an Official Plan Amendment.
New Official Plan Consultation Process and Updates
Over the public consultation process for the draft new Official Plan that was done in fall 2020 and spring 2021, the City received valuable feedback from a variety of stakeholders, including Barrie residents and business owners, developers, landowner groups and community organizations. Based on the feedback received, the City completed the second draft of the new Official Plan.
Comment Matrix and Tracked-Changes Version of the Official Plan released on September 23, 2021
Following the latest round of consultation on Draft Two of the Official Plan, which included an Open House on May 19, 2021, and a Public Meeting on June 2, 2021, the City has captured all suggestions in a comment matrix and created an updated working version of the Official Plan.
The City is also providing an updated version of the City-Wide Urban Design Guidelines, which help to implement the vision of the Official Plan. Read the latest documents and find out more at buildingbarrie.ca/officialplan.
Next steps:
Official Plan “town hall” meeting on October 19, 2021
Date: October 19, 2021Time: 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
This special town-hall style meeting will give the public another chance to address Council on the Official Plan. This meeting is your chance to learn about the latest changes, to ask questions and to provide some final feedback on the draft Official Plan. Currently, City staff intend to seek adoption of the Official Plan by Council before the end of the year.
Just prior to the Town Hall on October 19, the Director of Development Services, Michelle Banfield, will be giving an update on the new Official Plan at Planning Committee. You can watch the presentation, which will begin at approximately 7 p.m., live through the
City's YouTube channel.
Public engagement on City-Wide Urban Design Guidelines coming in early 2022
As the City further develops the guidelines, there will be public engagement on the Urban Design Guidelines in the early part of 2022. More details on the public engagement will be shared as they become available.
Following the release of the final draft of the new Official Plan, staff will be seeking its adoption by Council. The Plan must also be presented to the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for consideration and approval.
Official Plan Text & Schedules
On April 23, 2010 The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) approved a new Official Plan for the City of Barrie.
Official Plan - January 2018
Schedule A: Land Use
Schedule B: Planning Areas
Schedule C: Special Policy Areas
Schedule D: Road Plan
Schedule E: Road Widening Plan
Schedule F: Conservation Authority Regulation Limits & Watercourses
Schedule G: Drinking Water System Vulnerable Areas
Schedule H: Natural Heritage Resources
Schedule I: Intensification Areas
Schedule J: Lake Simcoe Watershed
Shaping the Future of Your City
The City has undertaken a process to revise its Official Plan to address new challenges in the future growth of the City as well as to bring it into conformity with Provincial policy, in particular the “Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe” and amendments to the
Planning Act.
An
Official Plan is a long range planning document that guides the use of land in the City as well as its future growth and development. It provides direction on how and where change and growth should take place and identifies the services and facilities needed to support the development of healthy and complete communities while setting out measures to conserve our natural and cultural heritage.
The City of Barrie adopted a new Official Plan on June 22, 2009 in conformity with the Provincial Growth Plan: Places to Grow. This Plan was forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for final approval. The Ministry has now completed their review of the Plan and proposed a series of modification in keeping with matters of Provincial interest. As part of the process, the Ministry has requested that these modifications be reviewed by Council and any questions or concerns be forwarded for consideration. The significant modifications relate to
a) Population distribution and densities
b) Settlement Area Boundary Expansion
c) Intensification Policies
d) The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan
e) Cultural Heritage resources
f) Renewable Energy and Alternate energy systems
g) Waste Disposal Assessment areas
Official Plan June 2009 - Draft Modification January 25, 2010.
Official Plan Amendments
An Official Plan Amendment (OPA) is a formal document that changes a municipality's official plan. Changes may be needed because of new circumstances in the community or because of requests made by property owners.
Official Plan Amendment 24
Official Plan Amendment 44