'How times have changed': Plans afoot for almost 600 homes on Lockhart Rd.

A public meeting for residential development on two side-by-side properties in south Barrie were on planning committee’s agenda Tuesday night.

Nearly 600 single-family homes and townhouses could one day be built on 460 and 560 Lockhart Rd.

“How times have changed,” said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “Two subdivisions do reflect a much different way of building our new communities than in the past.”

On almost 80 acres of agricultural land at 460 Lockhart Rd., developer Lockhart Innisfil Investments wants a rezoning to neighbourhood residential use and environmental protection (EP) to build 194 single homes, 20 street townhouses and 180 back-to-back town homes, for a total of 394 residential units. Also planned are municipal roads, one future lot and block, and stormwater management.

Lockhart Innisfil is asking for a draft plan of subdivision for this property as well.

The same developer is also proposing a rezoning from agricultural to neighbourhood residential and environmental protection at 560 Lockhart Rd., as well as a draft plan of subdivision.

This would allow 190 single-family homes of various sizes to be built on nearly 49 acres of land there. Plans also include eight future lots, EP land, stormwater management, and municipal roads.

Both properties are located on the north side of Lockhart Road, between Huronia Road and Yonge Street, and there is to be a combined total of 40 acres of EP land that would be dedicated to the city. About 32 per cent of the total land area is EP.

Ward 9 Coun. Sergio Morales, who represents this part of Barrie, had questions about the EP land.

“Is there an ability from our point that the marketing is absolutely clear when referring to what is EP… so we have proper integration and expectations for a development like this?” he asked.

Michelle Banfield, the city’s director of development services, said there would be a community information map detailing what was where and shared with all home buyers.

“Is your client willing and able to… make it abundantly clear as to what is EP, what is not?” Morales asked

“Developers are not interested in misleading and having all kinds of backlash, blowback on that,” said Ray Duhamel of Jones Consulting Group, representing Lockhart Innisfil.

These two properties are within the Hewitt’s Secondary Plan area and contain vacant agricultural land and natural heritage features. They include a tributary of Lover’s Creek, wetlands and woodlands/forested areas.

Both properties, 460 and 560 Lockhart Rd., are surrounded by vacant land and agricultural uses. The adjacent surrounding agricultural land on the north side of Lockhart Road is proposed, approved or designated for development.

Neighbourhood meetings were not held for either of these applications, due to the limited number of properties within the 240-metre circulation radius.

Notification of the filing of a complete application and a public meeting was circulated to property owners within 120 metres of these properties, as well as interested parties, in accordance with the Planning Act.

No residents asked to speak at Tuesday night’s public meeting.

For 460 Lockhart Rd., a staff report to planning committee could be ready in the second quarter of 2022 for consideration of the proposed rezoning. Should council approve it, planning staff, through delegated authority, would consider approval of the draft plan of subdivision. Subsequent site plan applications may be required to develop the townhouse blocks within the subdivision.

Also for 560 Lockhart Rd., a staff report to planning committee could be ready in the second quarter of 2022 for consideration of the proposed rezoning. Should council approve it, planning staff, through delegated authority, would consider approval of the draft plan of subdivision.