Commercial, light industrial and residential. That sums up the proposed uses on 82 acres of land at 15 Harvie Rd., in south-end Barrie.
City councillors, sitting as general committee, will consider rezoning this property at this evening’s meeting.
The change would permit 29.6 acres of commercial and light industrial uses along Highway 400, to the east of the Bryne Drive extension, and 155 residences as semi-detached homes and townhouses, as well as two blocks for future mid-rise apartment buildings, a school block and a public park, to the west of the Bryne Drive extension.
Residents have a long list of concerns, however.
“In speaking with the community, it's obvious that the people living in this neighbourhood have a variety of concerns that include the impact on wildlife, loss of green space, addition of streets that will spill over traffic into the existing neighbourhood, density and height of the proposed buildings, among other concerns,” said Sarah Khan, who lives in the neighbourhood adjacent to 15 Harvie Rd.
Barrie-Bryne Developments wants to build 58 semi-detached homes and 97 townhouses on this property.
A petition opposing the development, and the rezoning, had 131 signatures as of Tuesday morning.
It states: "If this development is approved, the population of the small neighbourhood bound by Highway 400, Harvie Road, Veterans Drive and Thrushwood Drive will more than double! This will be a densely populated neighbourhood."
The rezoning would be from general commercial, light industrial and environmental protection (EP) to general commercial, residential apartment dwelling first density, residential multiple dwelling second density, institutional – education, open space and EP.
The development plan would be formalized through a draft plan of subdivision, as well as site-plan control if or as applicable under the Planning Act.
This property is located on the west side of Highway 400, south of Harvie Road and east of Thrushwood Drive.
The land is divided by the future extension of Bryne Drive, which was previously conveyed to the City of Barrie.
This property has been farmed for field crops, permitted as a temporary use, which is in effect until Oct. 5, 2023. Use of the property for agricultural production began in 2014 as an interim use pending the future development of the land, to prevent it from being fallow and to reduce trespassing.
To ensure protection of the existing creek systems during farming operations, city staff required the preservation of a 30-metre naturalized buffer around Lover’s Creek and Whiskey Creek.
The rezoning application is part of today's general committee meeting, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. virtually and in the Council Chambers at Barrie City Hall. However, general committee’s decision on this rezoning could be considered for final approval at Wednesday’s city council meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The petition can be seen by clicking here.
