The voice on the radio is so authoritative and blunt: “What are the politicians of Barrie up to? Did you know they want to double their population...”
“And take thousands of acres from Innisfil to do it?”
Not only are we talking misinformation. We’re talking Lies.
That, however, is the start of the claims Innisfil is making to get people involved in its “fair growth” campaign, designed by a Toronto public-relations firm and featuring radio ads, mobile signs, a petition, website and a Queen’s Park demonstration next Thursday, May 28.
Having covered Barrie City Hall since 2001, I have seen first-hand how Barrie has been planning and changing the way it grows. Having covered Simcoe County since 2006 – beginning with the Intergovernmental Action Plan (IGAP) report on growth that included the province, the county, Barrie and its neighbours – I understand the environmental rationale for Barrie growing south.
And as I’m out there fielding questions, I saw the need to take some fairgrowth.ca claims and questions to Barrie officials. Barrie’s boundary working group chairperson Coun. Jeff Lehman provides us with answers.
1. Barrie wants to double its population.
Untrue.
Ontario’s Places to Grow planning policy sets Barrie’s population, within its current boundary, at 180,000 by 2031. The province also set aside 40,000 “unallocated” -- which was to be distributed through the facilitated talks with provincial development facilitator Alan Wells. Barrie’s target is 220,000 – which also happens to be its current sewage treatment capacity. (Barrie’s population is now 135,000).
2. Barrie wants to take thousands of acres from Innisfil; specifically 6,427 acres and $7 billion in assessment.
Untrue.
Most of the land under discussion is part of the previously negotiated “moratorium” lands set aside in agreements in the 1980s; these lands cannot be developed until an agreement is reached.
“We have no idea where the $7 billion number comes from,” said Lehman.
3. Barrie wants the racetrack and the money it will bring in.
Untrue.
“All negotiations and studies in the past have indicated that should the boundary need to expand to include the raceway, an agreement would be reached regarding revenue from the raceway continuing to go to Innisfil,” said Lehman. Innisfil does depend on the revenue from the racetrack; it amounts to about one quarter of Innisfil’s operating budget.
4. Barrie hasn’t made good use of lands it annexed before. Why would this time be any different?
This one is a good one – I’ve seen first-hand how the city has sent plans back to developers and told them to build more intensively: two examples are townhouse developments, one at Harvie/Essa/Ferndale, the other not far from the GO station on Mapleview East.
In 2005, Ontario passed Places to Grow, a legislation that requires municipalities grow smarter and more compactly. As part of this plan, Ontario has designated Barrie as an Urban Growth Centre, which requires higher densities and more jobs.
“Barrie wants slower growth. Our plan is for suburban growth to occur at a much slower pace than it has in recent years,” said Lehman, adding the city has a plan to intensify downtown and along major arterial roads.
5. If Barrie annexes my area, the lands will be turned into subdivisions.
Untrue.
“Barrie is growing smarter already ... We are going to grow slower on the edges and more inside our urban area.” How a land is zoned is determined through a public process that includes zoning, secondary plans and neighbourhood plans.
6. Judging by all the construction, Barrie can’t take care of what it already has. Why should it get more land?
Barrie has an aggressive $220-million infrastructure renewal program to repair roads and pipes. It creates 1,100 construction jobs and another 1,100 indirectly.
7. Barrie snubbed its nose at working with Simcoe County.
Untrue.
“Barrie is not in the county and has no vote at the table. It did, however, act as an observer, the only role it could have. Barrie co-operated fully by providing information requested throughout the study.”
8. Why, all of a sudden, is Barrie trying to steal land from Innisfil?
“Innisfil walked away from local negotiations. Barrie has been actively trying to reach a local solution with Innisfil to address this important issue since 2002. For the past two years, Barrie participated fully in facilitated talks between Innisfil, the county and Barrie. Innisfil walked away from the table rejecting the facilitated solution. In the past two months, Barrie attempted again to reach a local solution with Innisfil and Simcoe County. The demands of Innisfil cannot be satisfied by Barrie. Innisfil is demanding a change in provincial direction and policy.” (for more detail, see Question 4.)
9. Why can’t Barrie grow in another direction?
The Intergovernmental Action Plan (IGAP) – a joint study by Ontario, Simcoe County, Innisfil and Barrie – concluded Barrie should expand to the south. Lake Simcoe and its tributaries can handle growth better than the Nottawasaga River valley that’s already stressed by settlements.
10. How will Innisfil residents be affected by a boundary change?
Directing growth and intenstification to the urban growth centre will allow Innisfil residents to continue to enjoy the rural lifestyle they chose.
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