Another step has been taken toward an affordable housing development in Barrie.
A public meeting was held Wednesday evening on a rezoning application for 20 Rose St., a residential and institutional project of two towers — of nine and 11 storeys — and 215 units with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units of affordable rental housing, along with a four-storey parking structure.
Estimated to cost $217 million, it would sit on 4.7 acres on the north side of Rose Street and east of Bayfield Street, with Highway 400 along the site’s northern boundary.
Rachelle Hamelin, of the Simcoe County Housing Corporation, which is the developer, said it’s being designed to fit with the neighbourhood.
“It’s to be a mixed-income development,” she said, also noting the proposed look. “It’s to keep it interesting, not institutional, more of a residential feel.”
Area residents voiced concerns at the public meeting, however.
Justin Rancourt, who lives on nearby Agnes Street, has concerns that crime will increase in the area.
“We’ve had a lot of break-ins to cars, houses, sheds,” he said. “One of our concerns is they are going to increase. What will be done to mitigate these problems?”
David Gray, also an Agnes Street resident, said making the area busier will affect public safety.
“I’m worried about the kids,” he said, citing the lack of sidewalks in the area.
Evelyn Reid wrote the city to say she has concerns that applicants could be screened out if they own a car, since the proposed residential parking ratio is 0.45 spaces per unit.
“Generally, I am in favour of this much-needed development, however we must look beyond today and allow for people to progress,” she said. “Rent-geared-to-income folks may not be able to have a vehicle today — but the idea of rent geared to income is to help and not restrict people from gaining a step up — like a vehicle.”
The project is also to include an outdoor amenity area and green space, approximately 4,750 square metres of leasable social and community space, including Ontario Works and children’s services, along with 233 surface and structure parking spaces.
As of April 19, 2024, the County of Simcoe was aware of 1,217 people experiencing homelessness. Approximately 600 of these individuals were in Barrie — unhoused and living in various situations that may include shelters, couch-surfing or in a vehicle, and without a home address.
The 20 Rose St. application is to amend Barrie’s institutional zone to allow special provisions to increase the height, from 15 metres allowed to 38.5 metres, and to reduce parking requirements. The latter is from one parking space per residential unit to 0.45 spaces, and for the business and professional offices, from one space per 30 sq. m. to one space per 45 sq. m.
This land was previously occupied by a temporary homeless shelter, operated by the County of Simcoe, and before that was the site of the former Barrie OPP detachment.
A public meeting is one of the first stags of Barrie’s planning process.
This application now goes to planning staff for a report, which general committee and then city council will consider.
General committee is expected to have the staff report, and staff recommendation, this fall.
The county also hosted a neighbourhood meeting May 22 where local residents had a chance to see the plans up close and ask questions.
