A consultant’s report on Barrie’s controversial sports field, which could help determine its future, will see the light of day Wednesday evening.
Marshall Green, the report’s author, says it will be released at 6:30 p.m. in the Barrie City Hall Rotunda. He will then answer questions from media and the public.
This will happen before Wednesday’s meeting of city council, which could reconsider the matter.
“I am told that council will only ‘receive’ the report tomorrow, but I told the mayor (Alex Nuttall) that I would stick around to answer any questions from council if they want me to,” said Green, a retired lawyer with a specialty in municipal law and land use planning.
When council receives a report, it usually means no action will be taken on the matter.
Green was asked by Nuttall last month to look into city council approved plans for a synthetic turf, multi-purpose youth sports field and parade grounds, to go east of Military Heritage Park, in a 120 metres by 78 metres space, close to Lakeshore Drive.
Green was to meet with some stakeholder groups and to summarize their position in a report to council — to help guide its path forward, Nuttall said.
Opposition has centred on the location of the sports field and parade grounds, that it is still too close to the waterfront, despite being moved closer to Lakeshore Drive, and its new size, despite being smaller than the original design. And that the field would intrude on a naturalized area near the waterfront — with trees, grass and walking trails.
Arnie Ivsins, who has organized peaceful rallies in Barrie City Hall’s courtyard, against the field’s location, and silent protests in the Council Chambers, said he’s pleased Green’s report is ready for Wednesday’s council meeting.
“This has been three and a half months of lobbying our council to reverse their decision of putting a multi-use sports field on our waterfront, and I look forward to hearing what Mr. Green's recommendations are,” he said. “We continue to knock on doors collecting signatures on our petition, we have weekly road rallies at the location on Lakeshore Drive.
“We have not gone away, and are determined to continue on our mission to save the only naturalized space on our waterfront.”
The sports field would be for soccer, rugby, football and lacrosse, and marching for the Sea Cadets/Navy League, and there could be amenities such as lighting, benches and site furnishings, along with a paved asphalt 35-stall parking lot.
It has council support from May 15, but a permit is still required from Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, because its regulated area crosses the sports field’s top portion, and an archaeological assessment is also needed.
A simple majority of council is required to revisit, or reconsider, a motion within six months of its approval, or defeat, according to Barrie’s procedural bylaw. Approval of the sports field passed by a 9-2 vote in May. Only Couns. Jim Harris and Amy Courser voted against its approval.
“In an ideal situation, it is hoped that over the summer four of our councillors have taken into consideration what our group has done prior to and during their summer recess,” Ivsins said. “That they recognize the growing opposition to this proposal, and someone puts forth a direct motion for reconsideration.”
The Friends of Allandale Station Park says one of its main concerns is that council did not take the time to research, investigate and make an informed decision regarding the sports field near the waterfront.
Now the group wants councillors to take the time to absorb and digest Green’s report, taking its recommendations into consideration.
“Our voices have been heard, and they (councillors) have to consider the recommendations in the report,” says the group’s Facebook page.
Opposition has centred on the location of the sports field and parade grounds, that it is still too close to the waterfront, despite being moved back closer to Lakeshore Drive, and its new size, despite being smaller than the original design.
The project is estimated to cost $4.6 million which would come from three city reserves — development charges, tax capital and cash-in-lieu-of parkland. Washrooms/change rooms are not part of the plans, although the May 8 staff report says the cost would be $650,000 to $1 million.
The Sea Cadets, long located near the Spirit Catcher, would move to a new addition to the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre, a northerly extension to the basement of the existing building. It comes with a $4.55-million price tag. At this point $300,000 has been committed for the addition’s plan and design. City staff were to report back to councillors for future construction funding approval, once costing is refined through the design process. No funding source for the Southshore’s Sea Cadets addition has been identified by the city.
This sports field plan arguably goes back to last fall.
The May 8, 2024, staff report states that on Oct. 4, 2023, city council approved a motion ‘That staff in the corporate facilities department be directed to develop a plan, in consultation with the Sea Cadets and the Navy League of Canada, to relocate the Navy cadets to a new building east of Military Heritage Park, including a parade ground and multi-use outdoor space, and report back’.
Staff were directed to explore the potential to locate a multi-use sports field in Allandale Station Park, the staff report says, with the capacity to host a parade ground.
A zoning review shows that the development of a multi-use sports field in Allandale Station Park is permitted. The park is designated in the Official Plan as open space (OS), which permits the development of playing (sports) fields. Accessory uses permitted in OS zoning include bleachers, a club house, concession stand, refreshment pavilion or booth.
