Oro-Medonte staff 'do not support' Barrie boundary change proposal, but negotiations forging ahead
Councillors in Oro-Medonte could vote to approve a report this week to formalize ongoing discussions with the City of Barrie surrounding potential boundary changes.
On Wednesday Oro-Medonte council will consider a staff report outlining the current status of negotiations with Barrie over the larger municipality's quest for more industrial lands. Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall has said that the City can only lure new major employers or provide existing ones with an opportunity to grow by unlocking more employment lands.
According to the report prepared by Oro-Medonte staff, the town remains against the plans presented by Nuttall. The proposal includes approximately 772 hectares of land east of Penetanguishene Road, south of Gore Road, west of Line 1 South and north of the Shanty Bay rural settlement area.
"Township staff do not support the proposed municipal boundary expansion requested by the City of Barrie," the staff report says in its conclusion.
Negotiations over Nuttall's proposal have been ongoing publicly and privately for months, with the mayor formally presenting to the Oro-Medonte council in early November. However, while the township remains against the current plans, the report will formalize the ongoing discussions, saying that the township is "prepared to work with the City of Barrie to find an amicable solution."
According to the staff report, the lands in question are largely considered prime agricultural areas according to the township's official plan. It also claims that the lands include several watercourses and some of the lands are under the regulations of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
The town's official plan calls for the protection of prime agricultural lands, something this current proposal by Barrie would be in violation of.
The report says that the Township of Oro-Medonte currently has 567.70 hectares of designated employment lands and another 292.25 hectares of employment lands awaiting mapping changes by the county. Staff suggest that some of these lands be included in the negotiation for more employment lands for Barrie.
"The Township has…Employment Lands designated in its official plan along the Highway 11 corridor, minutes away from the City of Barrie boundary that culd accommodate the City's requested land needs and be developed by any interested party seeking employment lands," the report says.
The staff report suggests that specific steps outlined in the Planning Act still need to be completed as part of the proposal, saying that must be done for negotiations to continue in good faith.
In recent months, both municipalities have presented to the province's standing committee on heritage, cultural policy, and infrastructure. According to the report and Mayor Nuttall, all parties have been told to work cooperatively to find a solution.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6975593.1721827455!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
Canada's envoy to NYC called to testify about $9M condo purchase on 'Billionaires' Row'
Canada's Consul General in New York will have to explain the government's decision to buy a $9 million condo in Manhattan's famous 'Billionaires' Row,' to a parliamentary committee.
Price of new housing dipped slightly in June: Statistics Canada
The cost of a new house was slightly cheaper in June compared to May, according to Statistics Canada. Prices dropped 0.2 per cent month-over-month, which is the first time in 2024 that new houses have sold for cheaper than the month prior.
Parts of DVP, Lake Shore Boulevard briefly flooded as Toronto hit with heavy rain
Thunderstorms rolled through Toronto Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and causing flash flooding on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), Lake Shore Boulevard and some downtown subway stations.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
2 wildfires less than 8 km away from Jasper townsite, some structures impacted in national park
As the evacuation order continues for Jasper National Park, officials confirm that some structures in the park have been damaged by fire, but they can't confirm what those structures are.
'Inside Out 2' becomes highest-grossing animated movie of all time
If there’s one emotion that Disney and Pixar are probably feeling right now, it’s joy. That’s after movie sequel 'Inside Out 2' became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, raking in US$1.46 billion at the global box office and dethroning former record holder 'Frozen 2' from 2019, according to Disney on Wednesday.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Explosion and fire at Jose Cuervo tequila factory kill six, Mexican officials say
At least six workers have died in an explosion and fire at a tequila factory in Mexico, local authorities said.