Talks between the City of Barrie and the Townships of Oro-Medonte and Springwater will
continue regarding Barrie’s boundary expansion plans.
On Dec. 11, 2024, Hemson Consulting presented Barrie City Council with the Joint Land Needs Analysis and Study. This comprehensive work plan will serve as the foundation for future discussions and planning.
Barrie’s proposal to Oro-Medonte requested 772 hectares of land, including farmland and
environmentally sensitive areas. The city also identified three parcels in Springwater for
boundary expansion, totaling 1,324 hectares.
Hemson estimates Barrie has 793 hectares of vacant industrial land and has proposed two
options. The first is to keep current municipal boundaries, leading to slower growth in Barrie.
Some growth may shift to Oro-Medonte and Springwater. This option predicts slower residential growth by the mid-2030s and employment growth by the mid-2040s.
The second is to adjust municipal boundaries. Expanding Barrie’s boundaries through annexation could address community needs. This would involve assessing servicing requirements, fiscal impacts, and environmental factors, while considering future employment needs through 2051 and beyond.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said expanding the city’s boundaries is key to economic growth,
potentially creating 20,000 new jobs over the next 20 years.
“We heard from over 400 local businesses, owners, developers, and real estate professionals, who emphasized the need for expansion and opportunities to support business growth within the city,” Nuttall said.
“While the city currently lacks the available land to meet these demands, we do have the necessary services to support the development of growing businesses.”
Nuttall said he is confident that discussions between the city and townships will lead to a
solution.
“Throughout this process, we’ve had productive discussions with both Townships and are
confident that our municipalities can collaborate to find a collective solution that benefits all
residents in the greater Barrie area,” he said.
Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw and Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin have both said annexing lands to Barrie may not be the best approach. On Dec. 11, council members from Oro- Medonte and Springwater reviewed the Hemson report and will continue talks with Barrie.
