New redevelopment plans for Barrie’s old fairgrounds are finally getting their 15 minutes at city hall this week.
Only Wednesday's public meeting on plans to build 2,828 residential units in nine towers — at 175 and 199 Essa Rd., and 50 Wood St. — will be much longer than 15 minutes.
Arnie Ivsins, who lives on nearby Alfred Street, has gathered 70 names on a petition asking Barrie councillors to stop the project.
The petition says those who signed don’t want to see nine storeys or any highrises there, that it would impact the neighbourhood, existing infrastructure is insufficient and would be like having a town of 5,000 to 7,000 people there.
“The long and short of it is people don’t want highrises and felt that the previous proposal was a strain enough on the infrastructure and the resulting traffic without dumping more on top,” Ivsins said. “But at least it wasn't as disruptive as this.
“Highrises are a flat-out no,” he added. “Everyone feels that this (petition) will make a difference, and it's why they signed it.”
The previous proposed development included a variety of residential and commercial uses, including townhouses, apartments, a long-term care facility, ground-floor commercial, and an office tower.
Greenworld Construction/Digram Developments says the latest proposed development breaks down to 421 townhouse units in freehold and condominium tenure and 2,407 condominium units within nine highrise residential and mixed-use buildings, with 31,775 square feet of retail space.
John Proctor wrote to the city ahead of the public meeting to voice his displeasure.
“Never did we envision a grouping of highrises in our backyard and the congestion that is associated with them,” he said. “I am also opposed to any access out of any development on this site that will overtly cause an increase of traffic coming out of Wood and Campbell streets.
“If there is access out of this new development into our small neighbourhood, it will be extremely invasive and unsafe for the kids and families that already live here,” Proctor added. “I think it's disgusting that this new highrise proposal is a completely different development from what was previously proposed, aimed only at increased density and will add major congestion to the whole area. Please think of the existing residents and taxpayers in this and all development proposals.”
“This is very concerning to us and absolutely not being built for our residents. Growth like this is not necessary for Barrie,” said Pauline Parker in correspondence to the city. “There are limited high-paying jobs in Barrie and the only benefit is for the developers who will be making millions while current residents suffer. Please be respectful of the current residents’ concerns and decline this proposal. Are we not able to maintain any green spaces in this city?”
Murray Welch said he doesn’t like it, either.
“The design looks like it was just plunked down into the available space without proper consideration for roads and parking areas for the commercial space, local residents and the Barrie Curling Club, which I am a member of,” he said. “It also doesn't consider what the effects of that construction will have with the current residents of that area and what their reaction will be and what they will do when it is completed. It will not be positive for the city.”
Meaghan Saunders wrote of similar problems.
“I am very concerned about the increase of traffic that will be going up and down the road now, as there are a lot of children and dogs along the street and we bought this house for the quiet neighbourhood,” she said.
The proposed development is to be located on the south side of Essa Road, extending north to the Barrie Collingwood Railway tracks, east of Highway 400, and is known as the former Barrie fairgrounds and raceway.
It's currently vacant with the exception of the Barrie Curling Club (BCC), which has a 99-year lease there — and an option for another 99 years, which could expire in 2150.
In a lengthy letter, the BCC said it wants to see a site plan that assures it can still function there and expressed concerns about access off Essa Road and the impact on its parking.
“To be clear, our existing and legal agreement must be amended in order for this development to go forward,” Norman E. Speake, who sits in the BCC’s board of directors, said in the letter.
A second public meeting (the first was Aug. 10, 2020) is being held because ownership of the properties changed from Osmington to Greenworld/Digram, and the latest submission has proposed a revised concept and applications for alternative Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments.
The OP designates 175 and 199 Essa as general commercial and this application asked that the land be redesignated as residential and open space. The OP designates 50 Wood as Highway 400 industrial and the application also asks for a redesignation to residential and open space.
A rezoning application asks that this Highway 400 industrial and general commercial land be changed to transition centre commercial with special provisions, residential multiple dwelling second density with special provisions, residential multiple dwelling second density with special provisions and open space.
A public meeting is one of the first stages of Barrie’s planning process.
A staff report will come to Barrie councillors later this year to consider the OP change and rezoning.
Should council approve the changes, planning staff, through delegated approval authority, could consider approval of the draft plan of subdivision. Subsequent applications for site plan control and condominium exemption may be required to facilitate development on the subject lands.
The April 5 public meeting on these applications is scheduled to begin, in-person and virtually, at 6 p.m. in the affordability committee meeting.
