County warden, Oro-Medonte mayor react to township approving Barrie’s boundary expansion proposal

County warden and Oro-Medonte mayor react to township approving Barrie’s boundary expansion proposal.

The countdown is on for the latest boundary adjustment between the City of Barrie, Township of Oro-Medonte, and Township of Springwater to be tabled to the province.

One of those dominoes fell Tuesday evening in Oro-Medonte’s council meeting.

Council voted in favour of Barrie’s latest boundary adjustment proposal, one that would see the city take over 1,100 acres of land from the township, and use 700 of it for housing and commercial development.

“We need to work together with all of our municipal neighbours in order to make this a desirable place to live as well as have employment,” said Randy Greenlaw, Mayor of Oro-Medonte.

For years now, each step of the process has been met with polarizing reaction.

Tuesday’s meeting was no different, as it sparked concerns about whether the annexed land would be industrialized.

“We should be given a condition that that land, developable land, never ever be used for industrial purposes,” said Jane Voorheis from West Oro Ratepayers’ Association. “That condition was not put in place.”

Mayor Greenlaw reassured residents that protections were included in the proposal and that the township would be compensated with $15,000 per developed acre.

“In the agreement it says commercial accommodation or residential,” stated Mayor Greenlaw. “The reason we want those protections put in is because it puts our residents at ease that that’s what the lands will solely be used for.”

Meanwhile, the County of Simcoe says it is in agreement with the City of Barrie when it comes to housing initiatives, but on the fence when it comes to commercial development along the Highway 400 corridor just north of the city.

“We certainly want to create the regional employment zone and then share some with the City of Barrie, absolutely, we’re on board with that,” said Basil Clarke, County of Simcoe Warden. “We just can’t have the City of Barrie coming on stage first and then ours being cancelled because of it.”

For Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall who started this process more than two years ago, it is a movement that is long overdue.

“I don’t think we should be apologetic for wanting jobs in the City of Barrie,” said Mayor Nuttall. “I think we should be apologized to for not having enough land to have jobs for the folks that live here in the City of Barrie.”

Jennifer Coughlin, Mayor of Springwater Township, was not available for interview ahead of Wednesday evening’s meeting, where council is expected to table its vote on Barrie’s latest proposal.

The province has given the three municipalities until Friday to vote on the proposed boundary adjustment, and the changes could then be formalized by the province before the end of the year.

With files from CTV’s Jack Morse.