Delicate balance’: Innisfil council approves Orbit plan – Barrie Today

Even with secondary plan in place, shovels might not be in the ground this year; development could eventually house 25,000 people by 2051

Innisfil staff are hopeful, but non-committal, that construction work will begin on the Orbit development later this year, following the approval of a secondary plan to help guide the project.

In a recorded vote, council approved the plan unanimously at its recent meeting.

Hurdles remain before the document comes into effect, including approval from the County of Simcoe, which can’t occur until the Ontario government approves the county’s Official Plan Amendment 7. Once a decision is rendered, an appeals process begins, which could create further delays and prove costly for the municipality.

Still, the document in front of council is one they’re happy with. They were told by David Sajecki — a consultant with Sajecki Planning, who along with Weston Williamson and Partners and Hatch, developed the plan for the town — that “with great growth comes great responsibility.”

Part of that responsibility is to create a structure that can be used throughout the development of the Orbit project and establish how development applications on the subject land will be considered.

Read More: https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/delicate-balance-innisfil-council-approves-orbit-plan-8393427