A new subdivision with more than 100 homes could be coming to Huronia Road in the city's south end, but numerous Loon Avenue residents have spoken out against it.
A virtual public meeting was held Tuesday night regarding a property at 521 Huronia Rd., which is located between Big Bay Point Road and Mapleview Drive, across the road from the Eagle Ridge office complex.
Huronia Barrie Land Inc., wants to build 12 traditional townhomes and 92 stacked townhomes for a total of 104 homes.
Some residents became emotional and choked up while they spoke.
"I love my house," one woman said during the online meeting. "I bought my house because it backs onto this gorgeous forest. ... This is a highlight of our city. My friends from Toronto come and they love Barrie now because they see how you can live in cottage country, but still be in the city.
"To have that being squashed and taken away for a few more residences, when we've got so many other places we can develop that won't attack this natural beauty, doesn't make any sense to me," she added.
The developer has applied to the city for Official Plan and zoning-bylaw changes. The rezoning would change the property from agricultural and environmental protection (EP) to residential multiple second density with provisions to protect the environmentally sensitive land. Approval would allow for the development of three acres of the 15-acre property, with the remaining land designated EP to recognize the provincially significant Lover’s Creek wetland.
MHBC Planning's Eldon Theodore, who made a presentation on behalf of the developer, says the project would respect and maintain the wetlands and woodlot by seeking to have the undeveloped land protected to the south.
Part of the property is also zoned general industrial, but Theodore said if the rezoning application is OKd, a residential development there would be more compatible with the established neighbourhood to the north.
The proposed project would have its main access off Huronia Road, although Theodore said city staff have indicated the need for a connection to Loon Avenue to help with traffic flow and services. He noted the developer to the east may also seek access through the proposed development in the future.
For parking, the plan includes attached garages for the townhomes, as well as visitor and underground parking. There would be 35 parking spots at ground level and 127 underground.
Concerns that have been raised include privacy for Loon Avenue residents, preservation of trees, noise, traffic, and habitat protection. He also said Loon Avenue receives about half of the vehicular traffic it's designed to handle.
"Overall, approval of this development will not have a significant impact on the existing or future traffic patterns. It's only adding 20 additional cars per hour at the peak period," he said.
Michelle Banfield, the city's director of development services, said additional concerns raised by residents include the location of the access road, wetland protection, and its effect on property values.
Ten people spoke out at Tuesday's meeting against the proposal, mainly due to how it could affect the surrounding environment and their quality of life with more people living in the area.
Loon Avenue resident Monica Sergeant called the neighbourhood "a very vibrant, caring, closely connected community."
Sergeant said she has concerns with bringing more people into the area, as well as how underground parking would affect drainage in the area.
"It is eco-sensitive land. It is something that is at risk in this country and this city," she said. "We should be preserving it and using this as greenspace ... instead of plowing everything over with pavement."
Other Loon Avenue residents — who have started a petition that has "mobilized our neighbourhood to an extreme extent" against the proposal — also questioned the property's suitability for residential development.
"This land has been vacant for decades and vacant for good reason," said Loon Avenue resident Michelle Lackey, who also touched on the natural habitat and wildlife in the area. "There is very little EP land left in southeast Barrie. We need to preserve it, not chip away at it."
Technical reviews are ongoing, said Banfield, who expects a recommendation and staff report on the proposal to be ready in early 2021.
