The City of Barrie warns that if locally negotiated agreements with Springwater and Oro-Medonte are not achieved, the province could intervene, and financial compensation to the townships may not be available.
It is the latest give-and-take ahead of council meetings later this month in Springwater and Oro-Medonte, where the draft boundary proposal will be considered.
Earlier this month, Barrie City Council gave its blessing to the annexation of 2,150 acres of land from Springwater and Oro-Medonte.
The city released an update on Thursday about the boundary discussions with its neighbours. Much of what was contained in it is not anything new, but rather a repeat of why the boundary process was launched in the first place, and the potential perks to Springwater and Oro-Medonte should agreements with either municipality be achieved.
The bulk of the property that is being proposed for annexation is in Springwater, about 1,472 acres, and the rest from Oro-Medonte.
The deal would include a cross-border servicing arrangement with Springwater that the city says would provide water and wastewater services for key developments at just over 450 acres, including housing types, mixed-use medical, commercial and retail, as well as dedicated seniors' housing, and a seniors-related medical campus.
"The agreements also propose the creation of a Joint Economic Development Working Group that will focus on advancing strategic employment areas along the Highway 400 corridor to Forbes Road, and at the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport. These regionally significant employment areas are located within the county, not the City of Barrie, and will benefit the adjacent municipalities and the county as a whole," the city said in its update.
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Barrie has also offered a $5 million contribution to the county, for economic development initiatives.
The County of Simcoe said in a news release last month that the proposed annexation and mapping were rushed.
"The currently proposed outcomes have the potential to negatively impact the county's economy, the environment, and the future county revenues that would help offset our residents' hard-earned tax dollars," the news release quoted County Warden Basil Clarke.
Barrie is offering a total of $39 million to Springwater and Oro-Medonte for the land proposed for annexation, to be paid by 2030. Springwater would get the bulk of the cash, $22 million, to be paid in installments, while Oro-Medonte would receive a lump sum payment of just over $10 million in 2026.
The framework arrived at pays Springwater and Oro-Medonte $15,000 per developable acre. An additional $850,00 over five years would be given to Springwater related to economic development initiatives.
The boundary proposals, besides requiring approvals from the municipalities involved, including the County of Simcoe, also need the green light from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with a request to implement the restructuring proposal through a minister's order, which would be in accordance with the Municipal Act.
Springwater council hosted a public meeting about the boundary proposal on Wednesday, the County of Simcoe's public meeting is on October 14, and a public meeting at Oro-Medonte council will take place on October 15.
In 2023, Barrie identified a need for additional employment land, and subsequent studies have determined that additional community land (housing/institutional) was also required to accommodate provincially assigned population targets to 2051.
The proposed restructuring would be community lands in Oro-Medonte and a mix of community and employment lands in Springwater.
Barrie wants the restructuring in place by January 1, 2026.
