Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Barrie is preparing a Community Design Plan (CDP) to guide the long-term transformation of Bayfield Street and surrounding areas as the city continues to grow.
The Bayfield Street CDP will establish a framework for growth and redevelopment along the corridor, extending from Sophia Street to Barrie’s northern boundary. The plan is intended to shape future land use, built form and community design at both the neighbourhood and corridor levels, in alignment with the City of Barrie’s Official Plan 2051.
City officials say public input will play a central role in the process. Residents, business owners, workers and visitors are being encouraged to share feedback to help inform the plan’s direction.
As part of the consultation process, the city will host a Community Vision Workshop from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the East Bayfield Community Centre, 80 Livingstone St. E. The drop-in event will provide project updates, highlight work completed to date and outline next steps, while giving attendees an opportunity to share feedback and discuss the proposed vision for the corridor.
An online survey is also open to collect public input and identify key issues and concerns to be addressed through the CDP. The survey will remain available until Feb. 26, 2026, at BuildingBarrie.ca/BayfieldCDP.
City staff will also be available to discuss the project and answer questions during Winterfest at Centennial Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 12 to 2 p.m.
As part of the CDP process, the city completed a commercial market study in 2025, which included consultations with landowners along the Bayfield Street corridor. The study examined how commercial uses could be maintained and enhanced as Barrie grows and intensifies.
The study assessed future demand for retail and service space and explored how the largely car-oriented corridor could evolve into a more walkable, mixed-use area that integrates housing, shopping and services.
Key findings identified several challenges and opportunities, including the corridor’s current auto-focused design, limited support for transit, pedestrians and cyclists, and constraints posed by parking requirements and existing leases. The study also noted that mixed-use buildings with ground-floor commercial space can be more costly to construct and lease.
At the same time, large properties with extensive surface parking were identified as candidates for gradual redevelopment into mixed-use environments. These could include ground-floor commercial uses with residential units above, or multiple buildings with different uses on the same site, helping to create a more connected and vibrant corridor while preserving Bayfield Street’s role as a major shopping destination.
By 2051, population growth in Barrie and surrounding areas is expected to exceed 140,000 people, increasing demand for commercial space. Recommendations to be explored in the next phase of the project include maintaining a mix of large-format retail, smaller shops and services; allowing both single-use and mixed-use development depending on site conditions; and considering incentives or supports to improve the financial viability of mixed-use projects.
The second phase of the CDP will focus on envisioning the corridor’s future form and function. This work will occur in several stages and include multiple engagement opportunities with stakeholders and the public.
A Draft Background Review and Vision Report is now available, marking a key milestone in the process. The report includes an overview of existing corridor conditions, identifies opportunities and challenges, presents a draft long-term vision for Bayfield Street, and outlines preliminary “big moves” intended to guide growth, redevelopment, mobility and placemaking.
More information is available at BuildingBarrie.ca/BayfieldCDP.
