County of Simcoe holds meeting over proposed boundary adjustment

County of Simcoe holds meeting over proposed boundary adjustment

It was the County of Simcoe’s turn to hear from residents on the proposed boundary adjustment by the city of Barrie in Oro-Medonte and Springwater Township.

Jane Voorheis is a resident of Oro-Medonte who opposes any such plan for Barrie to annex land.

“We see this as irresponsible and unjustified land use planning, we see Barrie more as a hunter right now and we are the prey,” said Voorheis.

Voorheis saying she’s concerned about Barrie’s master plan.

“They state that it is for community land use purposes, but our big concern is that they would rezone this land for industrial purposes,” said Voorheis.

Barrie has been clear they want the extra land for housing and industry. The city has promised what it calls fair compensation.

The province so far has been in support of the plan.

The County of Simcoe and it’s Warden Basil Clarke penned a letter last week calling into question the viability of the plan and cost to county-tax payers.

“It was originally 2051 that’s what we all agreed upon we’ll look at our future until 2051 and it showed Barrie had enough industrial land though they had a shortfall of housing land and now we’re hearing we want to make Barrie complete until 2061 but the same information shows that Springwater is going to be short with employment lands in 2061,” said Clarke. “So once again we are taking future employment lands from a municipality that’s going to have a shortfall themselves so I question why would we do that instead of looking to the south.”

There were several people who stood up to have their voices heard. Rick Crooke has lived in Springwater for more than 25 years and he said he supports the move by Barrie if it’s going to result in new development.

“I’m for the annexation because Springwater had the chance to develop this land many times over the last couple of decades and they just didn’t.” said Crooke

Springwater held it’s own public meeting on the issue last week while Oro-Medonte will hold it’s own meeting on Oct. 15. “The county has not officially decided but plans to re-discuss the matter once again at its next county council meeting.