Barrie city council has approved an interim control by-law temporarily halting redevelopment on large portions of newly annexed land, as the city moves to update its planning framework following a major boundary expansion.
The by-law applies to properties transferred into Barrie under Bill 76, a legislation passed by the province in December 2025 that expanded the city’s borders into parts of Springwater and Oro-Medonte, that has been in effect since Jan. 1, 2026.
The by-law applies to properties transferred to Barrie under Bill 76, provincial legislation that came into force on Jan. 1, 2026 and expanded the city’s borders into parts of Springwater and Oro-Medonte. Council says the pause will give staff time to amend the city’s Official Plan and establish a long-term vision for how the new lands should be developed.
The interim control by-law will remain in effect for up to one year, with the option of a one-year extension, and prohibits new land uses not already permitted under existing zoning. During that period, rezoning applications, minor variances and new construction that falls outside current permissions will not be allowed.
City officials say the pause is intended to give staff time to complete a detailed land-use and infrastructure planning exercise and to amend Barrie’s Official Plan so it properly incorporates the newly acquired lands.
Mayor Alex Nuttall said the measure is intended to ensure growth on the newly added lands supports jobs and economic development rather than speculative or piecemeal construction.
“Responsible, deliberate planning is key to sustainable growth,” Nuttall said. “This by-law allows development of the Bill 76 lands to proceed in a manner that supports jobs, economic vitality, and long-term community benefits.”
The interim control by-law directly follows a mayoral direction issued on Dec. 22, 2025, under Ontario’s “strong mayor” powers, which instructed city staff to initiate an Official Plan review and to implement tools necessary to pause development while that work is underway .
In that direction, Nuttall wrote that Bill 76 triggered the need for a “comprehensive land use planning and infrastructure planning exercise” and authorized staff to use interim controls to protect the planning process.
The pause in development does not apply to several properties the city has identified as priorities for employment lands and health-care related development. Those exempted parcels include:
0 Georgian Drive and 366 Penetanguishene Road
384 Penetanguishene Road
3218 Wilson Drive
816 Sunnidale Road
700 Sunnidale Road
The exemptions align with a formal mayoral direction issued late last year under the province’s “strong mayor” powers, which instructs city staff to fast-track planning tools while protecting employment and health-care opportunities during the review period.
Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, interim control by-laws are typically used to prevent development that could undermine long-term planning objectives while municipalities complete major policy updates. In this case, the city says the by-law will be repealed once the Official Plan amendment is finalized, a process expected to conclude before the end of 2026.
According to the by-law, the interim controls will be repealed once the Official Plan amendment is completed, a process city staff anticipate finishing before the end of this year.
The boundary adjustment was authorized by the province because of significant long-term population and employment growth.