In an effort to address the ongoing housing crisis, potential solutions have been put under the microscope by the city council of Barrie. The city staff has recently laid out their updated zoning bylaw draft, in search of innovative solutions to affordability challenges plaguing homeowners and tenants alike, as the housing demand continues to surpass the available supply.
Among the suggested recommendations is the idea of intensifying densification – a proposal that would permit construction of diverse building types all around the city. This course of action could help expand housing availability in Barrie. Nevertheless, the city’s mayor has always been an advocate for preserving the distinctive aesthetics and vibe of specific neighborhoods.
In an interview, Mayor Nuttall expressed his vision for Barrie’s growth. “I envision growth through intensification nodes, particularly around transit hubs. This enables a vertical growth of our city, thus avoiding disproportionate influence on certain regions,” he stated.
Additionally, proposals have been made to decrease the mandatory number of new parking spaces designated for new buildings. As stated by the city staff, this strategy would repurpose land for residential use, persuade people to utilize the city’s transit system more frequently, instead of vehicles. Yet, the mayor anticipates future debates among council members concerning this idea, primarily because current neighborhoods need more parking areas.
Several transit changes were also given initial approval during the latest meeting of the Finance and Responsible Governance Committee. A proposition from councillor Sergio Morales introduces a transition from the current 75-minute continuous ride to a flexible 90-minute ‘time-based’ transfer system for Barrie Transit users, aiming to improve customer experience and boost long-term ridership.
In another segment, the councillors debated the definition and scope of a new lobbyist registry. Once active, this registry will mandate registration of city-related discussions by all lobbyists, available to the public through an accessible online database.
Simultaneously, the state government announced its ambition to increase rental housing by eliminating its share of taxes on rental developments. Although Mayor Nuttall acknowledges the need for such housing, he emphasized that home ownership serves the population in the long run. He warned that solely focusing on rental properties fosters a generation that contributes to other people’s mortgages instead of building their own wealth.
Lastly, ongoing, confidential conversation about the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka finding a new home in the Sadlon Arena precinct were also discussed. These discussions are still taking place behind closed doors as the situation remains confidential.
In the following week, on November 8, the councillors have a scheduled City Council meeting, during which they will aim to continue resolving these pressing issues.
