The province is urging Barrie and its neighbouring municipalities to reach a deal by the end of September that could unlock up to 930 hectares of land for new homes and jobs for the city of Barrie.
This is part of a regional boundary expansion plan aimed at accommodating long-term growth.
In a letter dated June 2 and addressed to Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin, the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator (OPLDF) said the next phase of a facilitation process that was launched last June is now underway and will focus on “viable options for accommodating growth” along Barrie’s borders with Springwater and Oro-Medonte.
A comprehensive needs assessment led by Hemson Consulting and publicly released earlier this year found that while the municipalities of Barrie, Oro-Medonte and Springwater each have enough employment land to meet growth demands out to 2051, only Barrie is falling short on Community Area land, which is zoned for housing and amenities, to support its expected population growth.
To address this gap, the report recommended the future expansion of Barrie’s municipal boundary by up to 930 hectares: roughly 630 hectares for residential and mixed-use development, and 300 hectares for jobs.
The province now wants municipalities to hammer out a framework agreement based on those findings by September 30, 2025, one that could form the basis for a formal restructuring proposal under the Municipal Act.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack has been briefed on the progress and expects the framework to include a plan for public consultation, including with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders.
“This work will require a robust technical and planning analysis,” wrote Daniel Mathieson, Chair of the OPLDF, and Deputy Facilitator Jeffrey Schelling in the letter, which was also sent to mayors and CAOs in Barrie, Oro-Medonte and Simcoe County.
The next phase includes evaluating land suitability for different types of development, mapping out natural heritage and undevelopable lands, assessing servicing capacity for infrastructure like water, wastewater, and transportation, and weighing local and regional market impacts. Hemson will continue to lead this work under an agreement with the City of Barrie.
One area of environmental sensitivity being considered is the land surrounding Little Lake, which is owned by the City of Barrie. The province said long-term conservation options for that area are on the table.
While the discussions are confidential and without prejudice, municipalities are allowed to share progress through council meeting updates. Officials emphasized that full participation from all parties is essential.
“We believe full participation in the process is the best opportunity for the Township to advocate for its own interests and optimize outcomes for its own constituents,” the letter states.
The agreement could pave the way for a significant expansion of Barrie’s urban footprint and a new chapter in regional planning for Simcoe County.
“Consultation with stakeholders is incredibly important and as stated inside of this letter, and that will continue as well before the deadline,” said Mayor of Barrie Alex Nuttall.
“This letter is consistent with everything being told by the province: that they are expecting the municipalities to work together. They’re expecting more jobs and more housing. This has now been put into written form so that all parties can see it and we’re also encouraged that a deadline is being set for us to report back with a comprehensive framework for moving forward,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Minister of Housing, Rob Flack, will comment on the decision tomorrow.
