Commercial and industrial lands needed for Alcona
By Chris Simon

For the second town council meeting in a row, developers have looked for their slice of Innisfil's land pie.

Last week, town councillors met with representatives from Pratt Development, a company looking to develop nearly 740 hectares of land stretching between the 20th and 25th sideroads, and running from the traditional Alcona limits to Sandy Cove.

If approved as proposed, 717 hectares would be used for a neighbourhood called Leonard's Beach. The remaining 21 hectares would be used for the Alcona Commerce Park, a potential commercial, retail and industrial area.

"We're suggesting the expansion of an existing settlement area, which is a pretty traditional planning practice," said consultant Rick Jones, on behalf of Pratt.

"The commerce park lands are well suited for retail, industrial and service commercial use."

The park would create about 3,170 jobs in the town, and generate about $14 million in development charges. About $2.8 million in property tax revenue would also be raised each year, said Jones.

As the town, and specifically Alcona, continues to grow, nearby jobs will be needed, he said.

"You've got a (job) gap that we're trying to make up," said Jones. "We'll in part make up that difference with the creation of jobs. We'll raise the ratio of jobs per population within an area (that is) accessible to town residents."

Earlier this month, a group of construction and development company representatives met with Innisfil councillors and staff, to discuss potential future development in the town's northwest corridor, during a committee meeting last week. The proposed development, which is being called Hewson's Village, would span almost 3,100 hectares (about 7,500 acres). It would run from north of Salem Road along the Barrie city boundary to the 7th Line, and from County Road 27 to just east of Highway 400.

If developed as proposed, those lands would include residential neighbourhoods, an industrial park, employment areas, and a secondary school. However, that project has been stalled by Simcoe County's current growth management process.

Mayor Brian Jackson says the Alcona proposal, if approved by the town, would not be affected by the county plan. Thus, the town will have the full decision on whether the project goes ahead.

"This is a town project, and not really part of the growth management study that's going on," he said. "It's away from any county influence."

However, there is a significant need for development in areas other than the Hwy. 400 corridor, says Jones.

"Alcona has the potential to provide significant employment growth for the town beyond the 400 corridor-based industrial development," he said. "The employment could be a mix ... (and) an attractive planned commercial/business park development."

He says the project complies with provincial building standards, while existing sanitary and water systems have the capacity to handle the project.