Two more local development projects have been granted a minister’s zoning order (MZO) through the province, meaning they can proceed with site plans.
A Medical Innovation Advanced Manufacturing Park in Oro-Medonte Township and a new Elmvale Active Seniors Residence in Springwater Township were given the greenlight from the province on Friday to proceed to the planning stages of their respective projects, now that zoning changes for the properties have been approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
David Yeaman, president of Molded Precision Components, worked with the managing partner of Oro Station Geoff Campbell – a neighbour of the property on Line 7 in Oro-Medonte Township, halfway between Barrie and Orillia – to compile a case for an MZO to the province, which will see the zoning of the land changed to industrial.
“I’m very excited! We’ve been working on this for quite a while now,” Yeaman told BarrieToday. “It’s a huge milestone to hit.”
Yeaman said this marks the end of the first official phase of the project. Now, he’ll be working on the initial phases of planning, including creating an official site plan and having public consultations.
“This kicks off the major planning phase,” he said. “The MZO basically zones the land as industrial so we can develop it. Now we have to go through all the normal planning.
"Nothing gets skipped over," Yeaman added. "It doesn’t bypass normal protocol; it’s accelerating it.”
To read our full story on the Medical Innovation Advanced Manufacturing Park, click here.
Meanwhile, the Elmvale Active Seniors Residence is proposed for Queen Street in the village, which is about 25 minutes north of Barrie.
The proposal was put forward by Sam Langman, who was the director and chairman of the non-profit board overseeing the project.
Langman died on Oct. 24.
“We’ve committed ourselves that we’re going to finish this, just for Sam,” said Dan McLean, director and vice chair of the board. “He was the driving force behind this. It was his original idea back in 2018. Now it’s up to us to pick it up and carry it, and we’re ready to do that.”
McLean said the board received word the MZO was approved on Friday, coinciding with Langman’s funeral.
“It was a sad day. There was no doubt in our minds that he was up there, looking down on us with a huge smile on his face,” said McLean.
The project will be approximately 240 units of one- and two-bedroom affordable seniors apartments with underground parking and a seniors medical centre. It is expected to be built in three phases.
“We are appreciative of the township, the county and the province for believing in our vision. There’s a real need in our community,” said McLean.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said now, more than ever, it’s important for governments to support local projects.
“By removing unnecessary red tape, we can help create new jobs and keep our economy moving down the road to recovery,” Downey said in a statement provided to BarrieToday.
An MZO cannot be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
