Affordable Housing and Proposed High Density Dominate Ward 8 Residents' Town Hall

During last week’s ward 8 town hall meeting with Clr Jim Harris and Mayor Jeff Lehman, residents asked questions ranging from new high density developments to snow removal and human trafficking to food security. But one topic that dominated was affordable housing. 

Following were some of the issues residents asked questions about -

Barrie’s old fairgrounds along Essa Road 

“The property ownership, if it hasn't changed, is actually going to change in the very near future,” said Michelle Banfield, director of development services. It is a 29 acres plot near Highway 400. “It's unclear whether or not they're going to proceed with the plan that's before the city or if they're going to do a revised plan,” she said about the new owner. 

Proposed development in Ward 8

A resident said 2000 units are proposed on an area of roughly an acre. He said at least 5,000 people would live in such a small plot of land. “But to put up seven towers, ranging the smallest at 17 stories, all the way up to 37 is just too much,” he said. “I know we need intensification but to put the size of a town like Perth, Ontario into this small footprint.”

Banfield said “the projects usually reduce in size by the time they come forward to council.”

“But as you're right, it's about size, scale and fit. And, and, you know, we need to get that part of it right,” Clr. Jim Harris responded to the resident. 

Mayor Jeff Lehman said “I have some concerns about the scale of density that's being proposed. I'm looking forward to the staff report, and I'm very conscious of the need for more housing supply and all of the good reasons why we wish to see higher density development, but that doesn't mean unlimited.”

Affordable housing

Lehman said Barrie does not have “enough supportive and social housing that is publicly funded housing for the most vulnerable and people who need specialized housing” and expressed the need to “get more of it built through federal and provincial funding.” 

Talking about the current home purchase trend, Lehman said “a full 25% of real estate purchases, of home purchases in Barrie are investments.” Due to relatively cheaper prices compared to Toronto, “people buying them either to rent them out, or to flip them or to fix them up. And that's part of the issue.”

Lehman said the city is taking initiatives locally to increase the supply. 

Barrie’s Affordable Housing Task Force recommended “to build housing on lands where we couldn't do that in Barrie previously. So some commercial zones, some institutional zones,.” The city is also ”gonna have a dedicated staff member whose sole job is affordable housing.”

Indigenous Archaeological site Allandale Train Station

A resident asked if increased scope of the archaeological investigation at the train station would have an impact on “the scheduling for building the new bus terminal, which is close by.”

Lehman said the bus building, smaller than the terminal, is on an area of the site which has been cleared. 

Michael Prowse, city’s chief administrative officer, said that “the scope of the archaeology has really been driven by provincial requirements.” He said the archaeology is expected to be done before this summer.

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