Barrie city council is getting a little outside, “arms length” look at its planned synthetic turf, multi-purpose youth sports field and parade grounds.
In a memo released Tuesday, Mayor Alex Nuttall says he has asked Marshall Green to volunteer his time to gather information about the controversial field, to be located east of Military Heritage Park.
Nuttall said council has heard from several stakeholders, representing different opinions, about council’s May 15 decision to conditionally go ahead with the field.
“Additional user groups have come forward and some requests and needs have changed,” said Nuttall. "Marshall will be providing that information when it's complete."
Green, described by Nuttall as a prominent community leader, has “met with some stakeholder groups and will be summarizing the position of the various stakeholder groups with the goal of presenting a report to council to help guide a path forward,” Nuttall said.
“At this time, it is unclear how long this work will take however, once the report is finalized it will be provided publicly to council,” the mayor said.
The field would be for soccer, rugby, football and lacrosse, and marching, and there could be amenities such as lighting, benches and site furnishings.
Council is next scheduled to meet Aug. 14.
Green, a Barrie resident, was senior legal counsel at the County of Simcoe, retired on March 31, 2024 and signed off with the Law Society the same day. He has 49 years experience as a lawyer, with a specialty in municipal law and land use planning.
Arnie Ivsins, one of the main opposition leaders, said Green’s involvement is good news.
“To me, the way it sounds, the mayor is listening to people, he is listening to the citizens of Barrie,” Ivsins said. “He has invited a third party, outside of stakeholders and user groups, to possibly find a solution to the problem, the problem being a sports field on the waterfront.
“I’ve not heard from one single user group or stakeholder opposed to the (Sea) Cadets moving across the bay. There’s no opposition to a parade ground, it’s just that the parade ground cannot be located at Allandale Station Park,” Ivsins said. “It needs to be located somewhere else. The sports field is fine, no problem, but again it cannot be located at Allandale Station Park.
“Based on that statement from Mr. Nuttall, I give him kudos for reaching out to a third party and possibly looking for other options.”
Coun. Craig Nixon said this project isn’t a done deal and Green will “formulate a neutral study of the proposal and any possible alternatives and to report back to council with findings.
“We are committed to achieving results that are mutually beneficial to all groups and stakeholders.”
Council essentially approved the field and an addition to Southshore Centre for the Sea Cadets new home May 15. The field and the Southshore addition of 600 square metres, would cost an estimated $9.1 million. A paved asphalt 35-stall parking lot is proposed.
The project includes a premium synthetic turf, multi-purpose sports field concept, and is estimated to cost $4.6 million. The funding will come from three city reserves — development charges, tax capital and cash-in-lieu-of parkland.
The Sea Cadets, long located near the Spirit Catcher, would move to an addition to what’s now named 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 will 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.
Green’s input is the latest city step to undertake more consultation on the May 15 decision and attempt to clarify council’s decision. In mid-June the city released information that staff have refined the location of the field to protect the woodlot, make the field smaller and closer to Lakeshore Drive, ensure the paved walking path is not impacted and to consider the use of natural barriers instead of fencing.
The May 15 motion also included language to ensure this field meets the minimum size requirements to accommodate the sports identified and to minimize impacts to the surrounding environment, including tree removals.
The field is to be 120 metres by 78 metres, instead of the original plan for 154 metres by 100 metres.
City staff say the new location ensures the woodlot is protected, and if any trees need to be removed, they will be replaced.
Council has approved planting an additional 1,000 trees on the waterfront and protecting the Vimy trees, which are not thriving in their current location and as a result, would be transplanted to a spot that will give them a better chance of survival.
The city has emphasized the Sea Cadets parade ground and multi-purpose sports field is an open-air facility, without a dome or stadium, and will be for community use.
Public consultation will occur this fall, the city says, giving residents an opportunity to provide feedback on the design and layout considerations like natural buffer options, fences, parking and lighting.
But opponents of the field’s location wanted input before it was chosen by council, and say they have not been properly consulted.
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.
