The City of Barrie and the Township of Springwater have settled the compensation for a boundary adjustment that would give Barrie a mix of added employable and community lands.
In a joint release, the municipalities say the agreement is the result of extensive collaboration and negotiation between the municipalities, with a shared focus on responsible growth, efficient service delivery, and long-term regional planning.
Roughly $22 million in total funds will go to the Township paid through a series of installments until 2030. Another $850,000 will be paid meant for economic development resources and initiatives over the next five years.
The compensation accounts for the value of the 1,126 acres, as well as the long-term municipal revenue impacts that will be felt as a result. Of those, 596 hectares are considered developable.
“These lands are critical to supporting job creation and long-term economic growth for our region. Securing them ensures we can attract investment, create employment opportunities, and plan responsibly for the future,” Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said in the release. “By working together, we have reached a solution that benefits both of our communities and strengthens our region as a whole.”
“The agreement with the City of Barrie ensures fair compensation for Springwater, supports future economic development, and positions our community for sustainable growth,” Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin added. “It provides certainty for both municipalities and helps Springwater plan responsibly for the services and infrastructure.”
Coughlin used her strong mayor powers in October to approve the boundary adjustment after opposition from her fellow council members and repeated deferrals for legal opinion.
The overall expectation among the Township's council was that some of its land would go to the City of Barrie, no matter what. It was the method—either annexation or legislative restructuring—that was in question.
Eventually, in November, the provincial government stepped in and introduced a bill to expedite the transfer of lands in Springwater and Oro-Medonte to Barrie.
Among other things, Barrie had offered water and wastewater servicing to 453 acres of Springwater, 500 City of Barrie waterfront parking passes for five years and access to Barrie's recreational programs and facilities for five years.
Impacted properties were officially made part of the City of Barrie on January 1.
