A recent servicing report from Pinestone Engineering Ltd. confirms that development beside Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) can only be supported by Barrie’s infrastructure, as extending services from the Township of Springwater is not economically feasible.
The findings reinforce the argument that the lands at 366 Penetanguishene Road, Springwater should be incorporated into Barrie, a position Mayor Alex Nuttall has advocated for.
In 2023, Mayor Nuttall proposed a boundary adjustment between Barrie, Springwater and the Township of Oro-Medonte, emphasizing the city’s limited industrial land with access to water and wastewater services.
“It appears the finding of the servicing memo reinforces that this property should be part of Barrie,” Nuttall said. “The memo suggests that an arbitrary boundary is preventing the activation of this land.”
The site, situated near RVH and Georgian College, has been the focal point of development proposals over the years. None have progressed due to its location
outside Springwater’s designated urban areas.
Darren Vella, President and Director of Planning at Innovative Planning Solutions, explained that the purpose of the report was to determine what servicing upgrades, if any, would be required to allow Barrie to service the lands.
“This property has been subject to development proposals for the last decade, all of which were not supported by Springwater because the land is not located within one of Springwater’s urban areas and could not be serviced, other than through the City of Barrie,” he said.
The report concluded that the site could support up to 700 residential units, offering housing close to schools, parks, and commercial spaces in Barrie’s north end.
Vella confirmed that the report has been submitted to the City of Barrie, but no feedback has been received to date. It has not yet been sent to the Township of Springwater, pending a response from Barrie officials.
Nuttall emphasized that the findings support the city’s long-standing position and highlight the need for further discussions on the future of these lands.
“This proposal seems to reinforce what we have been saying all along, further supporting the need for continued discussions on the future of these lands,” he said. “The greater concern at hand is ensuring that people can find opportunities to live, work, and play within Barrie, reducing the need for long commutes and supporting a thriving local economy.”
