Building a Framework that Supports Growth - City of Barrie Posting
Did you know that between 1981 and 2006, Barrie’s population tripled? Our city grew from a mid-sized community to one of a large urban centre. The rapid pace of growth has slowed somewhat in recent years, but the population continues to climb. It is forecasted that by 2031, Barrie’s population will reach 210,000. This month, Barrie takes another step in building a framework that will support not only this future growth, but also the costs and opportunities that come along with it.
“Our strategy is all about becoming ‘future ready’ — helping the City thrive as the heart of Simcoe County and as its only designated urban growth centre. It’s about moving forward and upward, and realizing Barrie’s inherent potential — both today and tomorrow,” says Eric Hodgins, Growth Management Coordinator.
Under the Provincial Growth Plan, the city of Barrie is to grow to 210,000 people and 101,000 jobs over a 20 year planning period from 2012 to 2031. The City is also required to plan for 40% of this growth as infill and intensification within the former city limits and 60% in the new expansion lands that became part of South Barrie in 2010.
The growth management program strategy is to build a city where everyone has access to safe drinking water, a clean and healthy environment, walkable neighbourhoods, connected communities, and convenient access to transit. The plan has been designed to ensure growth pays for growth to the greatest extent possible.
The end result is a strategy for the City as it moves forward with the development of its downtown and existing built-up areas, the remaining designated greenfield areas, as well as the newly annexed lands located in south Barrie. This strategy will guide and direct population and employment growth within the city to the year 2031 and ensure that Barrie continues to develop as a complete, well-balanced and sustainable community.
The strategy is intended to ensure a complete community with the same levels of service as today that include delivery of safe, clean drinking water, collection and treatment of wastewater and stormwater, and transportation choices for people to move about the city. Other services such as parks, libraries, and emergency services are to be expanded as required to accommodate the needs of new residents.
Furthermore, new development financing tools are being proposed that will allow the City to proceed with the new infrastructure required to support future growth over the next 20 years while adequately managing the risks of infrastructure replacement and maintaining existing levels of service for the residents and businesses of Barrie. However, even with new financing tools, the City will have to continue managing its budget very carefully in the coming years.
Upon approval of the staff’s recommended growth management strategy the results of the fiscal impact analysis will be presented to the development community to begin discussions leading towards financial agreements in accordance with the new Financial Policies Framework. Further information regarding the next steps in the growth management program will be presented in the near future.
For more information, please visit barrie.ca/growth.
“Our strategy is all about becoming ‘future ready’ — helping the City thrive as the heart of Simcoe County and as its only designated urban growth centre. It’s about moving forward and upward, and realizing Barrie’s inherent potential — both today and tomorrow,” says Eric Hodgins, Growth Management Coordinator.
Under the Provincial Growth Plan, the city of Barrie is to grow to 210,000 people and 101,000 jobs over a 20 year planning period from 2012 to 2031. The City is also required to plan for 40% of this growth as infill and intensification within the former city limits and 60% in the new expansion lands that became part of South Barrie in 2010.
The growth management program strategy is to build a city where everyone has access to safe drinking water, a clean and healthy environment, walkable neighbourhoods, connected communities, and convenient access to transit. The plan has been designed to ensure growth pays for growth to the greatest extent possible.
The end result is a strategy for the City as it moves forward with the development of its downtown and existing built-up areas, the remaining designated greenfield areas, as well as the newly annexed lands located in south Barrie. This strategy will guide and direct population and employment growth within the city to the year 2031 and ensure that Barrie continues to develop as a complete, well-balanced and sustainable community.
The strategy is intended to ensure a complete community with the same levels of service as today that include delivery of safe, clean drinking water, collection and treatment of wastewater and stormwater, and transportation choices for people to move about the city. Other services such as parks, libraries, and emergency services are to be expanded as required to accommodate the needs of new residents.
Furthermore, new development financing tools are being proposed that will allow the City to proceed with the new infrastructure required to support future growth over the next 20 years while adequately managing the risks of infrastructure replacement and maintaining existing levels of service for the residents and businesses of Barrie. However, even with new financing tools, the City will have to continue managing its budget very carefully in the coming years.
Upon approval of the staff’s recommended growth management strategy the results of the fiscal impact analysis will be presented to the development community to begin discussions leading towards financial agreements in accordance with the new Financial Policies Framework. Further information regarding the next steps in the growth management program will be presented in the near future.
For more information, please visit barrie.ca/growth.
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