It was a unanimous vote that received hearty applause from the public gallery filled with area residents.
Barrie city council officially rejected a proposal for an 11 storey, 215 unit apartment building in the city's east end at its meeting Monday night.
In a rare move, council went against the position of city staff and denied proposed zoning bylaw amendments for a residential tower at 37 Johnson Street.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank council for making the difficult but much-appreciated decision to support my constituents," said the Ward Councillor Bonnie Ainsworth.
Councillor Mike McCann supported the project last week but changed his mind after speaking to Ainsworth.
"I've walked your community and obviously lifestyle is number one, when it comes to safety, quality of life. We live in Barrie - the best city in Ontario to live. The best city maybe in Canada to live. This development being in your backyard is going to lower your quality of life," McCann said.
"This is not a designated area or a focal point for intensification," said Mayor Lehman, adding the development would not transition into the area and was simply too big.
"The scale that was proposed to me was simply well outside the bounds of reason," he said. "This was an easy decision for me on the basis of our policy."
The developer did not appear at council with any possible amendments to the project but sent a letter asking councillors for their approval.
Councll heard one deputation in favour of the apartment building by Barrie resident Robb Meier, who lives on nearby Napier Street.
Meier said the building would be ideally situated near services and transit, have a 'plethora of amenities' like restaurants and grocery stores and would meet provincial intensification targets.
“We cannot continue to disallow significant developments because 40 or 50 vocal neighbours get up in arms,” he told council.
"Council should be embracing opportunities like this that can provide rental housing. It is irrational for council to vote against this application."
In the same unanimous vote, council gave the go-ahead for a different development, this one planned for 101 Kozlov Street.
The developer, Green Valley Construction, returned to council Monday night with an amended proposal after council rejected the original plan last week.
Green Valley rep Scott Hannah told council about proposed changes which included reducing the total number of units from 120 to 88.
"I'm hoping you will see the light in my modified proposal," Hannah urged council. "We see this as a win, win, win."
The Mayor and councillors praised the developer for compromising.
"This is a great example of what can happen when you have an applicant who wants to listen, wants to cooperate and wants to find a solution - as opposed to 'this is what I want and if I don't get what I want I'll see you some other place'," said Councillor Steve Trotter.
Trotter was making a veiled reference to concerns that the Johnson Street project will end up with a costly battle at the Ontario Municipal Board.
"I commend the applicant for listening to the ward councillor and listening to the residents," Trotter said.
Mayor Lehman agreed
"I appreciate the effort to find a compromise. I will happily support this amendment," Lehman said.
