A major apartment project in southeast Barrie is starting to take shape.
On Feb. 26, a public meeting at Barrie City Hall addressed a rezoning application for 545-565 Big Bay Point Road, located between Montgomery Drive and Ashford Drive. The proposal includes two six-storey residential buildings with a total of 456 rental apartments.
The proposed site is currently zoned for single-detached residential use. Applicant DBZ Big Bay Twins is requesting a rezoning to permit residential apartment dwellings, along with special provisions.
Coun. Sergio Morales, who represents this area of Barrie, told Compass News that the proposed plan will have a major impact.
“The magnitude of this application is significant for the city,” he said.
“This project is so significant in size it would affect rental rates in the city, in a manner favourable to renters, by adding such large supply of purpose-built housing units into a Barrie rental market that has been lacking them for over a decade.”
He emphasized that proper design of the project is crucial for the local community.
“So far, this has been easier to achieve compared to traditional applications because, this is the first infill application outside the downtown core where an applicant purchased the entire block, which makes it easier to get these things right,” he said.
Eight single-detached houses are currently located on the proposed site. Along with the 456 rental apartments, the project plans to have 346 parking spaces, and allocate 10 per cent of the units for affordable housing.
Morales also stated that meeting the 10 per cent goal is critical.
“This is a serious development proposal, from a serious applicant, with the potential to make a serious impact in increasing our rental housing stock.”
No public comments were made during the meeting.
