Bradford West Gwillimbury has seen extensive growth over the past decade. With a current population of around 41,000, it's expected to grow to 51,000 people by 2051.
Town council understands the need to allocate population growth as part of Simcoe County's municipal comprehensive review (MCR), but wants a say in how the municipality will grow and look in the future.
The MCR is currently being done by the county in accordance with the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan. A key component of the plan is the allocation of population and employment growth to lower-tier municipalities, such as like Bradford West Gwillimbury, for growth from 2031 to 2051.
The growth plan anticipates an overall population of 555,000 people and 198,000 jobs for Simcoe County by 2051.
In a recent Bradford council meeting, Deputy Mayor James Leduc brought forward a recommendation asking the county to focus the town's growth on its employment land near Highway 400.
"This council has been through a lot of growth in the past 10 to 15 years," he said. "I think it's time we take a reflection and see where we want to be in the future. We want our employment lands (to be) the focus of our growth."
Leduc noted the building of the Bradford bypass as one of the town's major infrastructure projects and wants to look at new and creative ways to grow that are also environmentally sensitive.
"Being environmental stewards, that's what our focus is," the deputy-mayor said.
Leduc said he would like to see a commitment from the upper-tier municipality to help develop the employment land as a way to help to bring jobs to the community in the county's south end.
"We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the employment lands," he said. "It's time to give back to our residents and hold our taxes at a level they can stay with."
Mayor Rob Keffer supported the recommendation, noting Bradford West Gwillimbury is the second fastest-growing municipality in Ontario, based on the 2016 Census.
"I don't think we have to grow too quickly, too fast," the mayor said.
Coun. Peter Ferragine agreed.
"We have to get more jobs in here and it has to offset the tax base," he said. "We don't want a municipality full of houses. We need to have amenities. We need to have spaces. We need to have employment."
"We want to have smart growth — grow up, not out," added Coun. Jonathan Scott. "We want sustainability and environmental protection."
Coun. Mark Contois also supported the recommendation.
"I think Simcoe County needs to understand (that) we are on board, but it's not just cookie-cutter homes we need. We need the jobs, we need the employment, and (we) need the county to follow through on their promises."
Leduc said the employment land is an important part of the town's strategic planning and needs further investment.
"We want to be a driving force when it comes to employment in our community," he said.
Keffer noted how the employment land is supposed to be opened up once the Bradford bypass is built.
"I think that this sets a tone as we want to grow. We did a lot of work for our Official Plan and that carries on the theme that we want to be environmentally sensitive with how we grow," he said.
A recorded vote was conducted with all councillors voting in support of Leduc's recommendation.
Coun. Raj Sandhu was not at the meeting and did not vote.
To view the MCR project update report presented to council, click here.
