Springwater feels betrayed over County deal for Midhurst development

CTV Barrie: Growing pains in Midhurst Springwater’s mayor says he feels betrayed by a deal paving the way for more development. Roger Klein explains.

The County of Simcoe has reached an agreement with developers regarding a population allocation in Midhurst, but the deal is not sitting well with Springwater’s mayor.

The county announced the deal Thursday, stating it reached an agreement with representatives from the Midhurst developer group for 3,000 new residents as part of the 20,000 Population Allocation program designated under the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“Frankly, the Township feels a profound sense of betrayal by the County” said Springwater mayor Bill French.

Originally, Midhurst developers had requested more than 6,000 additional population for the Midhurst settlement area which the county and township felt was too much.

A hearing on the issue was scheduled to go before Ontario Municipal Board in October.

“We certainly never expected the County would turn its back on the Township and make a deal with the developers behind closed doors and force additional population on the Township well in excess of its Growth Plan numbers, without even consulting the Township or giving us any opportunity to comment on the deal,” said French.

The deal also shocked a local political watchdog group.

“The county has done an end-run on democracy” said AWARE Simcoe chair Don Morgan. “The county does not follow its own procedures, it's breaking its own rules and it's an ongoing situation.”

The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe allows the County the discretion to allocate additional population on certain lands under specific criteria within a settlement area in excess of what is needed for up to 20 years.

The county said the agreement  eliminates the necessity and significant costs for much of the OMB hearing and protects many of the existing processes and policies, preserving the County's right to allocate under the 20,000 Population Allocation Program.

"County Council made a very measured decision on all of the considerations of this complicated matter and this agreement really will be a win for the County, the landowners, the Township of Springwater and in particular for the Midhurst community," said Warden Gerry Marshall. "This decision provides certainty and avoids what could have been a lengthy, unpredictable and very expensive legal battle with vast and variable outcomes. Stakeholders from all perspectives should be satisfied that this solution works for the entire region at this time and also for the future."

In addition, the developers are subject to planning measures that will control the location and pace of growth.

French said he will be seeking legal guidance at the next council meeting and Aware Simcoe will consider asking Ontario's Ombudsman to investigate the County.

-With a report from CTV Barrie's Roger Klein