A proposed residential-commercial development at 76 Bryne Dr., in south-end Barrie, is shifting into the next gear.
Blackthorn Development, which is looking to build five storeys of 48 residences and seven ground-floor commercial units there, has approvals pending.
“We just cleared the final conditions. We’re just waiting on the city to give us the site-plan agreement,” said Maurizio Rogato, principal with Blackthorn. “This is a real good thing because under-utilized lands that are otherwise vacant are being utilized now for their intended purpose.
“Most developers are looking to change the game and the rules,” he added.
Coun. Nigussie Nigussie, who represents this area, said he supports the proposed development.
“As the city is very near to finalizing the site-plan agreement for this property, at this time I believe this development is well-suited for Ward 6 and will bring a variety of housing and commercial units to an otherwise under-utilized location,” he told BarrieToday.
“I fully support housing development, as it is important to meet the supply and demand concerns that Barrie is currently experiencing, and also aligns with our commitment to the municipal housing pledge we made with the province," the ward councillor added.
Barrie city council has endorsed a pledge with a target of 23,000 new homes built by 2031, in addition to what’s already planned.
For this Bryne Drive development, Blackthorn needed permission to exceed the maximum allowable height for five storeys — to 18.9 metres instead of 14 metres — from the city’s committee of adjustment. This was granted on April 27, 2022.
These 1.95-acres are located at the current end of Bryne Drive, east of Essa Road, west of Highway 400 and north of Harvie Road. The land is designated and zoned general commercial, which allows dwelling units and commercial uses. Both types of use are to be rental.
This project is to have 73 parking spaces for residents, 34 commercial spaces, four barrier-free parking spots and one loading space.
The site-plan application has a Feb. 18, 2021 date on the city’s website and remains under review.
The file has been with city staff since Jan. 10, 2023. Blackthorn and the city have been working to finalize minor site-plan details and all are now in a position to proceed with site-plan registration, according to staff.
“We’re really happy that it’s finally going forward,” Rogato said. “So if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say within a month.”
“City staff are now working with the applicant to finalize the site-plan approval and co-ordinate building permits for development of this property in 2023,” Nigussie said.
Bryne Drive’s south extension will make this area all the busier. It will be a new, five-lane road between south of Harvie Road and just north of Caplan Avenue, four travelling lanes and a centre paved median, with watermains, sanitary and storm sewers, on-road, buffered bike lanes, sidewalks on both sides of Bryne, a realigned old and new Bryne Drive intersection, along with improved drainage and stormwater management.
The $15-million road construction project's estimated completion date is December 2024.
The Harvie/Big Bay Point Road crossing was built over Highway 400 to reduce traffic congestion in Barrie’s south end, and to accommodate planned growth there.
The connecting section of Bryne Drive is required to accommodate that growth and increased traffic demand created by the Harvie crossing.
