As talks continue over Barrie’s proposed boundary expansion into Springwater and Oro Medonte, a growing number of local business owners are voicing support of the plan, calling it vital to meet rising demands for housing and employment lands.
The City of Barrie is seeking to annex approximately 3,270 acres from Springwater and another 1,908 acres from Oro-Medonte as part of a major growth initiative. City officials have said the expansion would enable the development of new employment spaces and more housing options.
In December 2023, more than 300 letters of support were submitted to the city from business leaders across Barrie. Among the supporters was Sean Mason of Sean Mason Homes, a real estate developer, who described the proposal as a necessary step forward in getting more homes built.
“The province wants – and our communities need – low-rise and medium-rise homes for a growing population, not just mid- and high-rise buildings within the urban city boundaries,” Mason told Compass News.
“Cities have always grown outward from a central hub – that’s just history. Cross-border servicing might be nice, but Barrie wants to control its own services, which its tax-paying residents support and have paid to build.”
Mason also pointed to the city’s northern infrastructure needs and conservation efforts as reasons to move ahead.
“Expanding northward would help balance the city’s infrastructure and amenities, with both the
college and hospital located near available land in the north.”
Markus Kompp, president of Aeroex Technologies, an air purification system manufacturer, acknowledged concerns from Springwater and Oro-Medonte residents but emphasized the long-term benefits.
“I know it’s a complicated issue, especially for people living in Oro-Medonte and Springwater and I understand why some may be frustrated – change is hard,” Kompp said.
“But we need to look at the bigger picture. Barrie is growing fast. And while we do have some land available now for industrial and commercial development, it’s not going to be enough in the long run. If we don’t start preparing now, we’re going to fall behind. Jobs will go elsewhere, investment will dry up, and we’ll be stuck wondering why we didn’t act when we had the chance.”
Kompp added that the impact of the annexation could extend beyond Barrie.
“This isn’t just about Barrie either – it’s about all of Simcoe County. A stronger job market benefits everyone, no matter where you live in Simcoe County.”
Kevin Agar, a local contractor and owner of Cardinal Builders, said the city must prepare for the significant population growth that is coming.
“The city needs to plan for what’s coming because if Barrie is going to reach around 300,000 people over the next 25 years, we have to be ready,” he said.
“This annexation plan makes a lot of sense.”
According to the city, Barrie is projected to reach a population of 298,000 by 2051.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said he welcomes the support from the business community, adding that the city has had talks with potential companies.
“It is encouraging to see strong support from the business community for the boundary expansion,” Nuttall said.
“Over the past several months, we have had productive conversations with companies that want to bring investment and jobs to Barrie. The challenge we face is that we do not have enough serviced land available to meet that demand. This expansion is a practical step forward. It will help us unlock job growth, attract private investment, and strengthen our local economy. Barrie needs to be ready to compete and win when opportunities come our way.”
A letter from the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator, dated June 2, 2025, stated that Barrie, Springwater, and Oro-Medonte must finalize a boundary expansion framework by September 30. 2025.
