Longtime local car dealer Paul Sadlon is behind the wheel of a development that would turn an empty field on Bayfield Street North into a small village near the Barrie city limits.
A numbered Ontario company owned by Sadlon is looking to Springwater Township council for a resolution of support in order to apply to the province for a minister’s zoning order (MZO) that would allow for the development of Springwater Village. The project would feature 2,000 residential units, mixed-use medical, commercial and retail space, and recreational areas located at 742 Bayfield St. N.
Innovative Planning Solutions (IPS), on behalf of 2252841 Ontario Inc., submitted an application under Springwater’s MZO request protocol on Oct. 3.
“I guess you could call this my last shot,” Sadlon said Monday. “I wanted to do this for a long time, but I just got frustrated at the process. It takes years.”
In order to apply to the province for an MZO — a provincial land-use approval tool meant for situations where development projects have merit but don’t comply with the requirements of local, regional or provincial planning policy — a resolution of support must be given by council.
It’s the second such request Springwater Township has received in the last two months.
The Remington Group applied for a council resolution of support at the Sept. 6 meeting of council for its proposed development at 727 Bayfield St. N. — across the street from the proposed Sadlon development — which includes a total of 471 units devoted to senior care through 145 retirement home units, 160 long-term care units, 115 life lease apartments and 51 hospice care units.
The Remington Group’s proposal also included 437,000 square feet of institutional floor area across five multi-storey buildings, a two-storey medical office, pharmacy and community centre.
The projects sought council support as both locations are located outside of a settlement area and there is no access to municipal services at either site.
Sadlon, who turns 91 in a couple of weeks, said he came up with the Springwater Village concept years ago, but never moved forward with it because of other commitments and what he says is his aversion to red tape.
“I think it's finally time, this is something that’s needed,” he said. "It's not a legacy project by any means."
In its application to Springwater Township, IPS said the proposed development is a master planned community “focused on wellness and affordability for its residents.”
The proposed community will feature 2,000 units in a variety of formats, including single-detached, semi-detached, townhouses and tiny homes. The variety of offerings, according to IPS, will give people more housing choices depending on their stage of life.
“These are homes that will be affordable and attainable,” said Kevin Bechard, senior associate at IPS. “These are not 3,500-sq.-ft. homes.”
Labelled an “accessible community,” the development plans to provide dedicated seniors housing and a medical campus fronting onto Bayfield Street.
IPS says there will also be opportunities for urban agriculture and a farmers' market.
“For many people, the idea of a rural lifestyle is attractive, but the reality is few people are in the position to buy a 10-acre or 100-acre plot of land and farm it themselves,” Bechard said. “In this community, there will be the opportunity to participate in a shared resource, a garden or a market, and make that agricultural connection.”
For council to consider a request for MZO support, the township’s "MZO request protocol" requires the applicant to provide written notice to landowners within 120 metres of the proposal and to facilitate a public meeting to obtain public input.
The public meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on Monday, Nov. 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide comments.
Anyone who would like to attend or make verbal or written comments during the meeting can do so at this link: https://bit.ly/3ZMrNHM.
People can also listen in to the meeting via phone by dialing 1-437-747-0431 and entering the access code 928 674 509#.
Written comments can be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Public Information Centre – 742 Bayfield Street North MZO-2023-003”.
Once the public meeting has taken place and any public submissions received, township staff will prepare a follow-up report outlining options for council’s consideration related to a resolution of support for a provincial MZO.
