A new bylaw in Barrie could reshape how development unfolds in the city’s historic Allandale neighbourhood while aiming to preserve its long-established character.
City planners are developing a new framework known as a community planning permit system (CPPS) that would guide how future buildings are designed and approved in the area. The system is part of Barrie’s Housing Accelerator Fund commitments and is intended to streamline development approvals by combining zoning, site plan control and minor variance processes into a single application reviewed within 45 days.
The Allandale neighbourhood has drawn growing development interest because of its proximity to Kempenfelt Bay, the Allandale Waterfront GO Station, the new Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal and downtown Barrie.
Under the proposed system, the city would establish clear standards for permitted land uses, building heights, setbacks and density. In some cases, additional height or density could be permitted if developments provide community benefits such as affordable housing, public art or enhanced open space.
During a public meeting at Barrie City Hall on March 11, residents were invited to share their views on the proposed planning tool.
Resident Bob Lehman, who spoke on behalf of the Allandale Neighbourhood Association, said he and other members generally support the concept.
“I think the city’s approach is a good one,” he said.
“We’ve identified a number of issues, and we hope to work through those with staff and all of this in the context of the city bringing in a new planning process.”
He said other municipalities have had success with the same approach.
“Other municipalities have been very successful in using this process,” he said.
“It doesn’t shorten the time period — it has a 45-day window before you can appeal, but it doesn’t really shorten the time period because all the work is done in advance.”
Arnie Irvins said he supports the CPPS approach but believes the proposed study area should be expanded to include more of the historic community.
“What we would like to do is to expand it — we think this is a great idea,” he said.
“We’re very pleased with many propositions here — the core of Allandale we want to keep historical.”
Irvins also raised concerns about potential building heights in the neighbourhood. “We want height restrictions for this area,” he said.
“Reducing it from 25 (stories) to something that’s more manageable and perhaps more reasonable. We’re not against housing — we also don’t want to see 12-story buildings in an older established neighbourhood.”
In a promotional video shown during the meeting, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said the city is trying to accelerate housing construction while respecting neighbourhood identity.
“We want to accelerate housing delivery. It’s about striking the right balance, preserving neighbourhood character while creating room for homes and spaces our growing city needs,” he said in the video.
The CPPS is being developed through a phased process, with Allandale being studied first before the city examines the downtown corridor in a future phase.
If approved, the new system would replace the traditional zoning and site plan approval processes in the designated area, providing clearer direction for developers and residents on what types of projects can be built.
