County of Simcoe and Midhurst Developer Group Reach Agreement on 20,000 Population Allocation Program
County of Simcoe Council reached an agreement with representatives from the Midhurst developer group for a resolution of the 20,000 Population Allocation program designated under the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
This program permits the County of Simcoe to allocate up to an additional 20,000 population over and above the population assigned by the Province to the County and its member municipalities.
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is a framework for implementing the Government of Ontario’s vision for building stronger, prosperous communities by better managing growth. The plan works to recognize the realities facing cities and smaller communities and to acknowledge what governments can and cannot influence.
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe allows the County the discretion to allocate additional population on certain lands under specific criteria within a settlement area in excess of what is needed for up to 20 years. This allocation of additional population is known locally as the 20,000 Population Allocation Program.
Originally, Midhurst developers had requested more than 6,000 additional population for the Midhurst settlement area. The agreed settlement provides for population allocation of only half that number and, in addition, developers are subject to planning measures that will control the location and pace of growth.
The developers’ request for this additional population was to be the subject of a lengthy Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing commencing October 5, 2016. This agreement eliminates the necessity and significant costs for much of the OMB hearing and protects many of the existing processes and policies, preserving the County’s right to allocate under the 20,000 Population Allocation Program.
“County Council made a very measured decision on all of the considerations of this complicated matter and this agreement really will be a win for the County, the landowners, the Township of Springwater and in particular for the Midhurst community,” said Warden Gerry Marshall. “This decision provides certainty and avoids what could have been a lengthy, unpredictable and very expensive legal battle with vast and variable outcomes. Stakeholders from all perspectives should be satisfied that this solution works for the entire region at this time and also for the future.”
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
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