County may be forced to pass growth plan
By Bruce Haire

Simcoe County councillors may have little choice but to approve the Simcoe Area Growth Plan.

Antony Losario of Hemson Consulting made it quite clear that the province has set the number of people that will live and work in the county, and wants a "more compact urban form."

It has set a limit of 667,000 people, 254,000 jobs and an intensification rate of 40 per cent in urbanized areas after 2015, and 50 jobs per hectare. While some more rural areas are allowed 30 per cent intensification, all of South Simcoe, including Barrie, is being recommended for 40 per cent. The exception is Adjala-Tosorontio, which is currently pegged for 30 per cent. Most municipalities have no idea how they will be able to create such intensification. In terms of employment, virtually all the unallocated job growth has been given to the enterprise zones along Highway 400 in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.

"The province made the decision not to accelerate growth in Simcoe County, Losario said.

This despite forecasts that development pressures for the population are too low.

"We're reducing development expectations," he added.

From the 2006 census, the area's population is projected to grow from 438,600 to 667,000. Barrie will grow the most from 133,500 to 185,000 and Adjala- Tosorontio the least in South Simcoe from 11,100 to 14,200.

The other South Simcoe municipalities were all asking for more growth than allocated. Innisfil got the most from 32,400 to 65,000, Bradford will grow from 25,000 to 49,700 and New Tecumseth from 28,800 to 49,000.

The plan also makes it clear that the province has to stand behind it and support the new Simcoe County Official Plan, once it is implemented from developer challenges.

The growth plan is expected to have county approval by the end of May.