NEWS RELEASE
FRIENDS OF THE FUTURE
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A community group ‘Friends of the Future’ is launching a petition blitz in east-end Barrie and Oro-Medonte to oppose the City of Barrie's proposal to annex 2,200 acres of farmland along Penetanguishene Road for industrial development.
Residents of east-end Barrie and Oro-Medonte are facing the imminent threat of factories and manufacturing plants encroaching on their quiet neighbourhoods.
"The prospect of converting farmland into industrial land, which is adjacent to residential areas with schools, a college and a hospice, is alarming and does not demonstrate good municipal planning," says Jane Voorheis, a member of Friends of the Future.
The group is urging Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall to reconsider the annexation and instead locate factories and manufacturing plants near major highways and interchanges.
“This approach would promote smart city planning and prevent the fragmentation of industrial zones, keeping them away from residential neighbourhoods,” Voorheis states.
Studies consistently show that industrial activities generate noise, pollution, safety concerns, increased traffic, light emissions, and potentially hazardous materials, all of which detract from the quality of life for these generational residential neighbourhoods.
These developments can also lead to decreased property values and hinder future real estate transactions.
Furthermore, a significant portion of the land earmarked for annexation is environmentally sensitive, featuring vital wetlands and watersheds. The proximity of these ecosystems to Lake Simcoe heightens the risk of detrimental runoff, threatening the ecological balance of our cherished natural resources.
To combat this proposal, community members will canvass east-end Barrie and Oro-Medonte at the end of May, gathering signatures for a petition opposing the city's annexation plan.
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