Rezoning two south-Barrie properties for 20 street townhouses could have several other development implications.
A public meeting on the rezoning application for 334 and 340 Ardagh Rd., from King Rich Homes Group, was held Jan. 8.
These two parcels of land, totalling 0.74 acres, are rectangles and located along the east and west sides of Neva Road, at the intersection of Neva and Ardagh.
“Right now, Neva Road is a dead-end road. It’s an unurbanized dirt road. It has ditches, no sidewalks, no lights,” said Joanna Fast, a planner with Groundswell Urban Planners, who was representing the applicant. “Neva Road will be urbanized, as part of this redevelopment, there will be sidewalks on both sides of the street, and that includes the creation of a boulevard, with street trees and lights, curbs, proper stormwater management.
"It is anticipated that Neva Road would ultimately be connected with Auburn Court at some point," Fast added.
Each street townhouse would have two parking spaces — one in the driveway and one in the garage. There are 12 private trees on the two properties.
“Each townhouse unit will be an individual property,” Fast said. “It’s not a condominium association. Nothing is shared.”
The rezoning application is from residential single-detached dwelling first density to residential multiple dwelling second density – townhouse, with special provisions. Variances would include smaller front- and rear-yard setbacks than required, more lot coverage, shorter driveways than required and less landscaped area.
A draft plan of subdivision application would also be connected to the rezoning request.
“It’s in an appropriate location for gentle density and infill development,” Fast said.
Coun. Nigussie Nigussie, who represents this area, had questions about timelines for the Neva Road connection to Auburn Court, road widths, driveway lengths, garbage collection, snow plowing and piling.
No member of the public spoke for or against the rezoning at the public meeting.
Each property has a single-detached home that will need to be demolished, should the rezoning application be approved.
Within Barrie’s Official Plan, which designates land use, these properties are identified as neighbourhood area — and are to provide most of the city’s low-rise housing stock, accommodate the appropriate levels of intensification along arterial roads and collector streets, as well as provide a mixture of uses.
New development on local streets in neighbourhood areas is to be kept to four storeys or less, while new development of up to six storeys may be permitted on arterial and collector roads.
A public meeting is one of the first stages of Barrie’s planning process.
A staff report to general committee is anticipated for the spring of 2025, for consideration of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment, which requires city council approval.
