An easement over a Penetanguishene Road property could lead to waterfront residential development along Barrie’s North Shore Trail.
The city’s committee of adjustment will rule on the easement at its meeting this evening (Oct. 28). An easement is a right to cross or otherwise use someone else’s land for specific purposes.
In this case, the easement is over 2C Penetanguishene Rd., for access to 161 Shanty Bay Rd.
“You could potentially have five, six, seven houses here, where now you have three,” Coun. Clare Riepma said of the waterfront property. “I think this (easement request) is sort of backwards.”
Riepma, who represents Ward 1 in this part of Barrie, says the land should be rezoned before an easement is granted. He also says he thinks the city should buy this property.
It is zoned open space, which means that even if an easement is granted, there would need to be a rezoning application to allow residential development, a public meeting and approval at planning committee and city council.
Geoff Hicks, who lives at 191 Shanty Bay Rd., says residential development there could cause real damage.
“(It would) destroy the eastern end of the North Shore Trail as it currently exists,” he said. “Will approval of this request make Barrie better, improve the city and waterfront?
“The answer is 'no'. It will reverse the unselfish hard work of many citizens over several years,” Hicks said of the North Shore Trail.
Riepma agrees that it would alter the area.
“It would change the character of the trail,” said the Ward 1 councillor, “not to mention affect the (vehicle) traffic.”
“The City of Barrie has been unequivocal in not allowing new construction of more than docks and boathouses along this shore line,” Hicks said. “What the applicant is proposing will lead to a major change in the ambience of the trail.”
The application was received by Innovative Planning Solutions, care of Cameron Sellers for Bob Graves, under the Planning Act.
BarrieToday could not reach Graves for comment.
The committee of adjustment’s public hearing on the easement request will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28, beginning at 5 p.m. over Zoom. The proposed 6.1-metre easement would mirror the existing easement.
