Vacant land on Essa Road could one day become eight storeys of residential units, commercial uses and parking spaces in south Barrie.
A public meeting was held Wednesday night for a rezoning application needed to facilitate this development, located at 582 Essa Rd.
“They’ve obviously done some creative work here because of a weird, triangle-shaped parcel that they’re dealing with,” said Coun. Gary Harvey, who represents the area.
This proposed L-shaped building would have 101 residential units on floors three to eight, with a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences, and is designed with no balconies. There would be three street-level commercial units and 116 total parking spaces — 47 underground, 45 on the second floor and 24 at ground level.
The application is to change the zoning from general commercial to mixed-use corridor with special provisions.
The existing zoning permits residential dwelling units in conjunction with permitted commercial uses. However, surrounding uses are primarily residential and the proposed zoning better aligns the property with surrounding zoning along the Essa Road intensification corridor and the intended use of the site, according to city planning staff.
The special provisions include an increase in maximum building height to 27.2 metres from 25.5 metres, an increase in the maximum front-yard setback from five metres to 6.72 metres, a decrease in the parking requirement from 17 to 15 for the commercial uses and a decrease in the minimum amenity space.
“When it comes to the outdoor amenity space, you’re less than 50 per cent of the requirement,” Harvey said. “Why is that? And is there any way to increase that? Because your outdoor amenity space is awfully small for the amount of units that’s being proposed.
“One of my concerns is that young families could be moving into this apartment building and there are no parks in the immediate area," he added.
Planning consultant Tracy Pillon Abbs, speaking for the developer, a numbered Ontario company, said they have tried to address the situation..
“We’re trying to compensate by providing internal amenity space for the residents so there’ll be more workout space, seating area and then the rooftop amenity on the eighth floor is to help provide for additional outdoor seating,” she said.
“Because of the unique shape of this lot, we don’t have the benefit of being able to comply with that minimum requirement (in the zoning), so we are asking for relief," Pillon Abbs added.
Harvey also had concerns about having commercial space.
“What would be the need for commercial units in this building when you’ve got a massive outdoor plaza across the street and especially during a time when we’re in dire need of residential units?” he asked.
Pillon Abbs said it could be office space, a laundromat or a coffee shop.
“This might be an opportunity for a smaller business to have a start-up area,” she said.
The Ward 7 councillor also had concerns about tree preservation, but the 12 in question would be saved, said Pillon Abbs.
Gopinath Muniyandi and Shobhitha Gopinath, Barrie property owners, wrote to the city about their concerns with the project.
They include privacy, landscaping, lighting, windows, noise mitigation, construction impacts and property values.
“The proposed apartment building, due to its height and potential privacy concerns, may significantly impact the value of my property,” their letter said. “I request that the builder provide compensation for any substantial devaluation caused by the development, considering both property value and rental considerations.”
Muniyandi was the only member of the public who spoke at last night’s meeting, asking about the project’s privacy fence, but said he supports the development. The board fence would be a maximum height of two metres.
A neighbourhood meeting was held last April 13, 2023. Concerns were expressed about the access route and safety from Essa Road, the total parking space, including commercial, the visual impact and loss of privacy for residents in single-family homes to the east and construction noise.
This vacant land, just less than an acre in size, is located on the east side of Essa Road, south of Mapleton Avenue and north of the intersection with Coughlin Road.
A public meeting is one of the first stages of Barrie’s planning process.
This rezoning application now goes to city planning staff for a report to city council’s general committee, and that’s anticipated this fall. If this rezoning is approved, an application for site plan control would be required.
