EBO Releases Brief on City of Barrie's Boundary Review and Dispute with Springwater and Oro-Medonte

Dec 19, 20244 min read

Updated: 9 hours ago

Transparent, collaborative planning, meaningful public engagement, and a focus on responsible land use are essential to ensure sustainable growth.

Major proposals like this demand open, transparent processes from day one. Rushing forward without proper consultation undermines trust and raises serious concerns about who this expansion really benefits.

Barrie must take a responsible, transparent, and collaborative approach to growth. This proposal isn't just about land - it's about people, communities, and the future of our region.

For a copy of the original document, complete with Sources List and links, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x_zRwJVrcuDcfQBDXJ2aeg0nmuUfzEwv/view?usp=share_link

Context

The City of Barrie has proposed annexing approximately 2,200 hectares of land from the neighbouring Townships of Springwater and Oro-Medonte. This proposal, which aims to increase employment and industrial land, has sparked significant opposition from residents, local leaders, and community organizations. Independent studies question the necessity of the expansion, raising concerns about transparency, regional collaboration, and responsible land use.

Key Issues

1 - Barrie’s Employment Land Needs

The Joint Land Needs Analysis (Hemson Consulting, 2024) concludes that Barrie already has sufficient employment land to meet demand through 2051, with 793 hectares of vacant industrial land available.
Mayor Randy Greenlaw of Oro-Medonte emphasized that the targeted land is active farmland and includes environmentally sensitive areas, making it unsuitable for industrial development.
The 2019 Land Needs Study supported a modest Settlement Area boundary expansion but prioritized growth within Barrie’s built-up areas.

2 - Past Annexations: Learning from Innisfil

Barrie’s 2009-10 annexation of approximately 2,300 hectares from Innisfil offers a cautionary tale. While intended to meet growth needs, much of the annexed land remains undeveloped over a decade later.
This history raises questions about the necessity of further annexations without clear, actionable plans to utilize existing vacant land efficiently.

3 - Learning from Orillia's Boundary Expansion Efforts

The City of Orillia is currently exploring a boundary expansion to accommodate projected growth to nearly 50,000 residents by 2051. The preliminary concept involved annexing approximately 188.7 hectares from Oro-Medonte and 97 hectares from Severn. This has since been reduced following further study and community engagement.
Orillia has engaged in a more transparent process than Barrie’s, including virtual public open houses and consultations with neighbouring municipalities and Indigenous communities to gather input and address concerns. Some examples of the difference:
- A June 2023 Open House Summary revealed significant community concern about urban sprawl, with many advocating for infill development and intensification before expanding boundaries. Residents prioritized protecting farmland, forests, and natural heritage areas.
- Orillia has released detailed reports, land needs assessments, and mapping to keep stakeholders informed, aligning with best practices in public engagement.
- Stakeholders, including local realtors and community advocates, have offered alternative land options to limit environmental impacts and ensure responsible growth.
Community groups, such as Stop Sprawl Orillia, have mobilized to advocate for sustainable growth within existing urban boundaries, emphasizing the importance of protecting farmland and natural heritage features.
Orillia's approach demonstrates the importance of comprehensive public engagement, environmental considerations, and collaborative regional planning with neighbouring municipalities to achieve balanced and sustainable growth.

4 - Lack of Transparency and Public Mandate

The proposal for a major boundary expansion surfaced publicly in late 2023, catching residents, neighbouring municipalities, and stakeholders off guard.
Notably, Mayor Alex Nuttall did not campaign on this issue during the 2022 municipal election, meaning there is no public mandate for such a significant shift in policy.
This sudden push for annexation raises concerns about the process:
- Why was this not a matter of public discussion during the campaign?
- Why is it being pursued with such urgency now, when independent studies show Barrie has sufficient employment land?
This lack of early consultation and transparency further undermines public trust, particularly in light of previous annexation experiences that did not yield the promised development outcomes.

5 - Stalled Regional Collaboration

The Ontario government has urged Barrie, Springwater, and Oro-Medonte to resolve the dispute collaboratively.
A lack of early consultation and transparency has strained inter-municipal relationships. A regional approach to growth, grounded in mutual benefit, is needed.

6 - Public Engagement and Transparency

Engage Barrie’s Position Paper on Community Engagement calls for following international best practices like the IAP2 Spectrum, prioritizing meaningful public participation.
Public opposition is mounting. Thousands of residents, organized groups, and municipal leaders have expressed concerns about the proposal’s impacts on rural character, farmland, and environmental preservation.

7 - Economic Development and Infrastructure

Barrie’s lack of “shovel-ready” land is cited as a barrier to attracting spillover opportunities, such as Honda’s Ontario expansions. However, the priority should be servicing existing industrial land in south Barrie.
The proposed annexation would involve multi-year infrastructure development timelines, delaying immediate economic opportunities.

Recommendations

1 - Utilize Existing Employment Lands

Prioritize infrastructure investments to ensure that Barrie’s vacant industrial lands are ready for development.

2 - Reassess Residential Land Needs

If boundary adjustments are necessary, focus on residential growth to meet housing needs, supported by clear density and intensification plans.

3 - Commit to Regional Collaboration

Rebuild trust through open, transparent dialogue with Springwater and Oro-Medonte to ensure equitable solutions.

4 - Uphold Meaningful Public Engagement

Align with the IAP2 Spectrum to ensure residents, stakeholders, and neighbouring municipalities are actively consulted and empowered in the process.

5 - Learn from Past Experiences

Develop and execute clear plans for existing land before pursuing further boundary expansions.

Conclusion

Barrie’s case for annexing land remains weak, with independent studies affirming sufficient land for employment needs. Transparent, collaborative planning, meaningful public engagement, and a focus on responsible land use are essential to ensure sustainable growth. The mistakes of past annexations, like Innisfil, must not be repeated.