How High is Too High in Barrie?

Open house this week to look a construction policies for tall buildings

In a maze of pipes, rods and scaffolding, construction workers continue their progress on the lower-level parking structure of the Collier Centre as the structure begins to take shape downtown. MARK WANZEL PHOTO

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How high should Barrie’s buildings get?

That’s the question city residents can help answer at Wednesday’s open house meeting on the proposed policies for tall buildings.

These policies are to provide city council, developers and residents with guidance and direction for assessing the merits of applications for tall buildings, including their design, location and orientation.

Buildings as high as 15 storeys are allowed now, but that restriction dates back to 1989 and might no longer reflect Barrie’s city centre’s designation as an Urban Growth Centre by the province, which means encouraging more residential and office growth in the downtown.

City staff have indicate that virtually every major condominium project in the city centre has been granted an exception to the height bylaw: Grand Harbour, Waterview, Nautica, Watercrest, Bayshore Landing and Marina Bay I and II.

These buildings exceed the height bylaw, anywhere from five metres in Marina Bay’s case to 18 metres, or about six storeys, in Bayshore Landing’s case.

The current height bylaw gives council control over the design of the buildings. For example, the city got greater setbacks above the fifth floor for the new Watercrest building on Maple Avenue, resulting in a more attractive building and one which casts a smaller shadow.

Many residents of Bayshore Landing, which got an exemption from the height bylaw, however, have told council they didn’t want any new building across from them to be any taller than the 10 storeys set out in the bylaw.

But the advantages of taller buildings include greater densities to support transit, protection of farmland and open space, and higher tax revenue to the city.

Barrie began experiencing tremendous population growth pressures in the late 1980s. This included proposals for several highrise developments, ranging from 10 to 19 storeys, which were well above the the downtown’s three-storey tradition.

At the time, no Official Plan policy or zoning bylaw standards regulated height within the waterfront areas of what’s now the Urban Growth Centre.

A height review study in 1989 helped established height controls and building standards for development in this area.

Wednesday’s open house meeting runs 4-7 p.m. in Huronia Room ‘A’ on Barrie City Hall’s second floor.

City planning staff will present the proposed policies and will be available to answer questions following the presentation.

For more information, or to provide feedback, contact Aslam Shaikh atashaikh@barrie.ca or call 705-739-4220, ext. 4434.

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The ‘Policies for Tall Buildings’ would be based upon the following guiding principles:

• Prevent adverse building shadows on waterfront amenity areas, on pedestrian-oriented streets, as well as existing and future planned open space areas.

• Foster a pedestrian-oriented environment that encourages street level activity.

• Protect views and access to Barrie’s waterfront.

• Integrate new development within the context of the local urban form.

• Minimize adverse micro-climatic impacts on the streets.

• Retain views of the Algonquin Ridgeline to preserve Barrie’s ‘natural setting’.

• Protect views of major geographical landmarks, buildings and principle viewing areas.

• Contribute to a visually interesting skyline for Barrie.

Source: City of Barrie, Barrie Examiner - Photographer Mark Wanzel