A rezoning could help add 20 homes to a residential development in south-Barrie.
A public meeting was held Aug. 14 to rezone 124, 180 and 228 McKay Rd.’s northern portion from agriculture general and environmental protection (EP) to neighbourhood residential and EP. The rezoning application comes from developer Mattamy (Salem).
This land is irregularly shaped and located along Veterans Drive and McKay Road West, extending both north and west from the intersection of McKay Road West and Veterans Drive.
The purpose of the zoning change is to facilitate a red-line revision to a draft approved plan of subdivision for the construction of 20 additional residential dwellings — bringing the properties’ total to 751 single-family homes and townhouses, from 731 units, on these 129 total acres.
“This entire area (except for the EP land) is proposed for residential or neighbourhood uses,” said Ray Duhamel of the Jones Consulting Group, representing Mattamy.
The first phase of the subdivision plan has been registered and is under construction, say city staff. It includes 380 residential dwelling units — 139 single-detached homes and 241 townhouses.
The proposed red-line revision is also intended to request inclusion of the additional northern lands on this property for stormwater management and environmental protection purposes.
A red-line revision is a change to an approved plan that doesn’t substantively impact the visual appearance of a development, the operational requirements of a municipality or a regulatory agency.
Brian Wight, who lives on Salem Road and owns about 50 acres there, has drainage concerns.
“We’re really looking for clarification on water flow to make sure that it doesn’t flow to the west,” he said at the public meeting. “I understand most of it goes to the east. We are to the west of the development.”
Coun. Gary Harvey, who represents this part of Barrie, put the question to Duhamel.
“Is there any concern water will go westerly toward his (Wight’s) property,” Harvey asked, “or are you confident with all the studies that have been done to date that you will be able to retain the water within your own designated property and the water pond that’s already been allocated?”
“I’m very confident that the water will be confined to drain toward the storm ponds the city has,” Duhamel said. “We’re not allowed under the Drainage Act to send water on other people’s property anyway.”
A neighbourhood meeting was not held for the proposed development, as all lands located within 240 metres of the subject property have either received draft plan approval for plans of subdivision or are in the process of obtaining approvals/registrations.
A public meeting is one of the first steps in Barrie’s planning process.
A staff report on the rezoning application is now anticipated to go before general committee of city council in September, and be considered for approval. If OKed, the application goes to city council for final approval.
This property has a long development history. Its approved rezoning and subdivision plan dates back to March 8, 2018, according to the city’s development pages on its website.
