Ontario Construction News staff writer
Barrie city council is expected to approve a zoning bylaw amendment request from Tonlu Holdings June 7 for construction of two residential towers with a four-storey podium.
The planned towers would be 19 and 23 storeys with a combined 504 apartment units – scaled down from the original proposal for 24 and 26 storeys.
“Proposed development of apartment units will add the potential for more affordable and attainable housing options and provide residential population in the urban growth centre to support the Allandale GO (Transit) station and future transit hub,” city senior planner Celeste Kitsemetry wrote in a report to council. “The requested site-specific provisions represent good planning and would facilitate development that is consistent with the city’s policies, guidelines and goals in effect at the time of submission of the application.”
The developer has another project in the same area — a four-tower, 1,276-unit development that is still under review by the city.
Opponents have said the towers are too tall for the neighbourhood, the development lacks green space and there is concern about the potential for units to be used as short-term rentals.