Does city council have any choice but to backtrack on its plans for a sports field, near Barrie’s waterfront, after a handpicked consultant’s report turfed the project?
Mayor Alex Nuttall, who has supported the field there, said the report by Barrie resident Marshall Green, a retired lawyer with a specialty in municipal law and land use planning, is not the final word.
“I think that council always has a choice,” Nuttall said. “We go and we get the best people that we know, experts, to provide advice. In this case we have someone (Green) who has a plethora of experience in municipal law.
“Then it’s up to council to take all of those pieces of advice and put them together with a clear picture,” the mayor said. “Council always has the ability to take the advice, weigh it against everything they’ve heard and seen, and know, and then apply it.”
Arnie Ivsins, organizer of peaceful rallies at Barrie City Hall’s courtyard, against the field’s location, and of silent protests in the Council Chambers, was asked if council has any alternative - given Green’s report - but to reject the sports field.
“They always have a choice, but it seems that the winds are shifting to protect Allandale Station Park,” he said. “Therefore it is hoped that council will review Mr. Green's report and make an informed decision based on his research.
“With the report's recommendation to also include changing the zoning from open space to environmental protection, we have made a commitment to work with the city parks department, service clubs and groups such as Pollinate Barrie to enhance and protect this natural habitat for generations to come.”
Green presented his report Wednesday on the synthetic turf, multi-purpose youth sports field and parade grounds, in a 120 metres by 78 metres space, on city land east of Military Heritage Park, close to Lakeshore Drive.
His recommendation was ‘that the city not approve the proposed multi-use sports park on that site, nor at all.’
The report also included information on seven unused soccer pitches and eight unused baseball diamonds in Barrie that could help fill the need for more sports fields.
They are Cartwright Park, Catherine Park, Cloughley Park, East Bayfield Park, Eastview Community Park, Ferndale Park, H. G. Robertson Park, Hanmer Park, Kearsey Park, Lampman Lane Park, Lougheed Park, MacMorrison Park, Maintland Park, Queens Park and Riverwood Park.
Green’s report says these parks had no scheduled games that could be found.
Nuttall was asked if these spaces were considered for the sports field, and he said their sizes have to be considered..
“When you take a look at the size of the multi-sports field versus the size of the individual fields, they actually didn’t fit,” he said. “So when you see the overlaps…that one’s going into a parking lot, to that one is taking out a gazebo or it’s going into a fenced-off area.
“While there are many fields, they actually have to match the need.”
Nuttall, speaking at mid-day Thursday, said the city could unveil a plan with 24 hours for further public consultation with Barrie residents and user groups on Green’s report.
It concludes that while there is a need by many sports groups for additional fields, he is concerned about whether they can work together to make them usable.
The report had seven recommendations, among them making sure the sports field site is a passive park, with a trail system and zoned environmental protection.
Green’s recommendations also include locating the Sea Cadets/Navy League parade grounds on the west side of Southshore Centre, the current Sea Cadets site (once they move) being the location of Barrie’s new performing arts centre, the Barrie Baycats of the Intercounty Baseball League moving to Queens Park from Barrie Community Sports Complex in Midhurst, and a soccer stadium considered for city-owned land on the former Barrie Central Collegiate site on Dunlop Street West.
The waterfront sports field in question 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.
It has council support, 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.
Despite council essentially approving the field last May, opposition by Barrie residents to its location in a naturalized area near the waterfront - with trees, grass and walking trails - has persisted and no doubt led, in part, to Green’s involvement.
He met with stakeholder groups to summarize their position in a report to council - to help guide its path forward, at Nuttall’s request.
Sports groups which had input to Green’s report include Barrie Rugby Club, Barrie Soccer Club, Barrie Minor Lacrosse, Huronia Stallions Football Club and Barrie Minor Baseball Association.
Green’s report said of all the groups he met and talked with, only one indicated preferring the lakeshore location as something that would increase the profile of their organization, and their sport.
Reconsidering the sports field motion was not on city council’s agenda Wednesday, and it was not discussed during the meetings.
General committee is next scheduled to meet Sept. 25, council on Oct. 2.
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 on May 15. Couns. Jim Harris and Amy Courser voted against its approval.
Opposition has centred on the location of the planned 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.
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.
