A major development bordering Barrie’s north-east end will not be getting the support of the city for a ministerial zoning order (MZO), and the city has now asked Oro-Medonte Township and the County of Simcoe to reconsider their support as well.
During city council’s general committee meeting on Monday night, council was presented with final technical comments from city staff on the McLean Park project.
In her report to council, Andrea Miller, the city's general manager of infrastructure and growth management, wrote that little detailed technical work has been presented to city staff by the McLean family in regards to the development, and that the McLean family had agreed to meet with staff over the summer to provide additional clarifying information.
“A few meetings took place between the McLean team and city staff. However, before any additional/clarifying information was provided by the McLean team, staff were advised that the McLeans had decided not to continue discussions at this point. No further discussions took place after early July 2020,” wrote Miller.
Miller wrote that the planning policy, wastewater, municipal drinking water, source-water protection and transportation-planning concerns outlined in the staff memo considered by council at the end of June remain unanswered and there are still legitimate concerns for development of this size on the border of the city.
“It is the city’s expectation that these technical comments will be fully addressed before a final decision on the principle of development is made with respect to this property,” wrote Miller.
The McLean family is in the midst of preparing a MZO request to submit to the province, for a proposed development on their family’s property at 121 Penetanguishene Rd., dubbed McLean Park.
The project has received letters of support from Oro-Medonte Township and the County of Simcoe.
The land is currently designated 'restricted rural' in the township's Official Plan.
The proposed development would consist of multi-unit apartment buildings, rear-lane and back-to-back townhouses, senior-focused one-storey dwellings, a mix of commercial, office and retail uses, future institutional (long-term care home) and recreational uses, parkland, stormwater management facilities, an infrastructure block and wastewater treatment facility, as well as local minor collector and arterial roads.
An MZO would, in effect, bypass the need for a county Official Plan amendment, an Oro-Medonte Official Plan amendment and a zoning-bylaw amendment for the project.
Barrie city council ratified their decision during their regular council meeting following the general committee meeting.
The McLean family has now set up a website for the development where questions and comments can be sent directly to the proponents. To access the website, click here.
