Community Planning Permit System

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The City of Barrie is creating a new Community Planning Permit System for the Urban Growth Centre (downtown) and Allandale Major Transit Station Area (MTSA). Based on project findings and results from previous engagement activities, the CPPS will continue with a phased approach: the Allandale MTSA will be studied first, and the downtown (Urban Growth Centre) and Bradford Street corridor will be examined in a future phase.

Get Involved!

There will be many opportunities to get involved and provide input on the CPPS project to help shape the rules of development for the CPPS. Current opportunities include:

  • Subscribe to the project (by clicking "Subscribe" under the "Stay Informed" widget)
  • Ask any questions by contacting project staff via email at cpps@barrie.ca

Upcoming public engagement opportunities:

Open House (Feb. 23, 2026)

Drop in to the Open House on Monday, February 23, 2026 from 3:30 to 7:30 pm, at General John Hayter Southshore Centre (205 Lakeshore Drive). Complimentary parking will be provided for all attendees. Families are welcome—light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

It's encouraged to review the following materials before attending the Open House:

Public Meeting (Mar. 11, 2026); details can be found here.

Previous public engagement opportunities:

Online survey:

  • The City launched a survey in December 2025 to collect feedback that will shape the development of the CPPS, including community priorities and the process itself. Responses to the survey were received until January 19, 2026.
  • Survey findings can be reviewed here.

Project update as of February 9, 2026: Based on the survey findings and early project feedback, the City is adjusting the study area for the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) project. At this time the downtown (Urban Growth Centre), including the Bradford Street corridor, requires closer analysis. Survey responses highlighted challenges in this area related to safety, social disorder, and economic uncertainty. These are not challenges that a CPPS can directly address in the short term.

In contrast, the Allandale Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) includes an established residential community, and feedback indicates that the primary concerns relate to built-form, tree preservation, and development impacts on existing homes. A CPPS is well-suited to address these items.

To ensure the project remains responsive to community needs, the CPPS will move forward using a phased approach. This phased implementation still fulfills our commitment to complete the full CPPS study area in accordance with the Housing Accelerator Fund obligations, while allowing us to begin where the tool is most effective and where it can immediately address identified matters. The Allandale MTSA will be studied first, and the downtown (Urban Growth Centre) and Bradford Street corridor will be examined in a future phase.

Background reports and information:

In December 2025, the consultant submitted a report outlining the key findings and proposed directions, and a housing market analysis. View the full Project Findings to Date report.

Background reports referenced in the Project Findings to Date report are available at the links below:

The future Official Plan Amendment, and Draft Community Planning Permit By-law, will build from the findings of these reports, as well as the targeted stakeholder discussions.

What is a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS?)

A Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) is a tool that municipalities, like Barrie, can use to streamline and improve the development approval process.

It combines zoning, site plan, and minor variances under a single application and efficient approval process. This reduces the review and approval timelines to 45 days. Once a permit is issued, landowners can proceed directly to a building permit application, bypassing the traditional multi-step process.

A CPPS is implemented through a CPPS By-law which sets rules for the area (like a regular zoning by-law). Rules include:

  • Boundaries of the area covered by the CPPS
  • Permitted uses and standards – things like what kinds of buildings and activities (land uses) are allowed on a property. It includes things like conditions for approval, how tall buildings can be, how far they must be from the street (setback), and how dense the development can be.
  • Community benefits – for example, taller buildings and greater density could be allowed when they deliver benefits like affordable housing, public art, or open spaces.

A CPPS also includes some extra features:

  • Conditional uses: Some activities or buildings are allowed only if specific conditions are met.
  • Exemptions: Some classes of development or activities don’t need a development permit but still need a building permit.

A CPPS also allows for flexibility in the rules. The City can approve minor changes to some requirements. This includes slightly adjusting a setback or height, as long as it stays within the limits in the CPPS.

Why is the City considering a CPPS?

There are many reasons to consider a Community Planning Permit System in Barrie, including:

  • Certainty and transparency: The community helps shape the CPPS vision, priorities, and standards upfront. The CPPS shows the community the kinds of development that are allowed and where. The process is predictable.
  • Support Barrie's housing and growth: The CPPS helps plan for long-term growth in these key areas. It will create more housing in the right places. That means livable, accessible homes near transit and other amenities.
  • Community character and urban design: New developments fit into the community by following design standards from the CPPS By-law. The CPPS can include local design standards that honours neighbourhood character and the community's values.
  • Community benefits: The City can require specific conditions to be met when approving an application. The City can allow taller buildings in some areas; builders must add features like affordable housing, transit shelters, open spaces, and public art, as the City specifies.
  • Streamlined process: The CPPS simplifies development approvals. A CPPS provides new opportunities for collaboration with the development industry to effectively deliver on Barrie's housing pledge.

The Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) project is a key initiative under the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan.

Once approved, the CPPS will apply only to these areas (downtown and Allandale); replacing the Zoning By-law and Site Plan Control By-law in these areas. The rest of the city will continue to follow Zoning By-law 2009-141 (this will stay in place until a new comprehensive zoning by-law takes over).

The proposed CPPS will implement the vision and goals for how Barrie will grow and change, as detailed in the Official Plan. The CPPS will not change this vision or disregard the previous work the City has completed and what it has heard from you in previous consultations.

This is a city-led project, and includes the expertise of Hertel Planning, who have engaged the following topic-specific consultants:

  • Agent Urban – Heritage & Community Design
  • Perkins&Will – Community Design
  • LURA – Communications & Public Engagement
  • NBLC – Housing Market Analysis

The City of Barrie is creating a new Community Planning Permit System for the Urban Growth Centre (downtown) and Allandale Major Transit Station Area (MTSA). Based on project findings and results from previous engagement activities, the CPPS will continue with a phased approach: the Allandale MTSA will be studied first, and the downtown (Urban Growth Centre) and Bradford Street corridor will be examined in a future phase.

Get Involved!

There will be many opportunities to get involved and provide input on the CPPS project to help shape the rules of development for the CPPS. Current opportunities include:

  • Subscribe to the project (by clicking "Subscribe" under the "Stay Informed" widget)
  • Ask any questions by contacting project staff via email at cpps@barrie.ca

Upcoming public engagement opportunities:

Open House (Feb. 23, 2026)

Drop in to the Open House on Monday, February 23, 2026 from 3:30 to 7:30 pm, at General John Hayter Southshore Centre (205 Lakeshore Drive). Complimentary parking will be provided for all attendees. Families are welcome—light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

It's encouraged to review the following materials before attending the Open House:

Public Meeting (Mar. 11, 2026); details can be found here.

Previous public engagement opportunities:

Online survey:

  • The City launched a survey in December 2025 to collect feedback that will shape the development of the CPPS, including community priorities and the process itself. Responses to the survey were received until January 19, 2026.
  • Survey findings can be reviewed here.

Project update as of February 9, 2026: Based on the survey findings and early project feedback, the City is adjusting the study area for the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) project. At this time the downtown (Urban Growth Centre), including the Bradford Street corridor, requires closer analysis. Survey responses highlighted challenges in this area related to safety, social disorder, and economic uncertainty. These are not challenges that a CPPS can directly address in the short term.

In contrast, the Allandale Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) includes an established residential community, and feedback indicates that the primary concerns relate to built-form, tree preservation, and development impacts on existing homes. A CPPS is well-suited to address these items.

To ensure the project remains responsive to community needs, the CPPS will move forward using a phased approach. This phased implementation still fulfills our commitment to complete the full CPPS study area in accordance with the Housing Accelerator Fund obligations, while allowing us to begin where the tool is most effective and where it can immediately address identified matters. The Allandale MTSA will be studied first, and the downtown (Urban Growth Centre) and Bradford Street corridor will be examined in a future phase.

Background reports and information:

In December 2025, the consultant submitted a report outlining the key findings and proposed directions, and a housing market analysis. View the full Project Findings to Date report.

Background reports referenced in the Project Findings to Date report are available at the links below:

The future Official Plan Amendment, and Draft Community Planning Permit By-law, will build from the findings of these reports, as well as the targeted stakeholder discussions.

What is a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS?)

A Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) is a tool that municipalities, like Barrie, can use to streamline and improve the development approval process.

It combines zoning, site plan, and minor variances under a single application and efficient approval process. This reduces the review and approval timelines to 45 days. Once a permit is issued, landowners can proceed directly to a building permit application, bypassing the traditional multi-step process.

A CPPS is implemented through a CPPS By-law which sets rules for the area (like a regular zoning by-law). Rules include:

  • Boundaries of the area covered by the CPPS
  • Permitted uses and standards – things like what kinds of buildings and activities (land uses) are allowed on a property. It includes things like conditions for approval, how tall buildings can be, how far they must be from the street (setback), and how dense the development can be.
  • Community benefits – for example, taller buildings and greater density could be allowed when they deliver benefits like affordable housing, public art, or open spaces.

A CPPS also includes some extra features:

  • Conditional uses: Some activities or buildings are allowed only if specific conditions are met.
  • Exemptions: Some classes of development or activities don’t need a development permit but still need a building permit.

A CPPS also allows for flexibility in the rules. The City can approve minor changes to some requirements. This includes slightly adjusting a setback or height, as long as it stays within the limits in the CPPS.

Why is the City considering a CPPS?

There are many reasons to consider a Community Planning Permit System in Barrie, including:

  • Certainty and transparency: The community helps shape the CPPS vision, priorities, and standards upfront. The CPPS shows the community the kinds of development that are allowed and where. The process is predictable.
  • Support Barrie's housing and growth: The CPPS helps plan for long-term growth in these key areas. It will create more housing in the right places. That means livable, accessible homes near transit and other amenities.
  • Community character and urban design: New developments fit into the community by following design standards from the CPPS By-law. The CPPS can include local design standards that honours neighbourhood character and the community's values.
  • Community benefits: The City can require specific conditions to be met when approving an application. The City can allow taller buildings in some areas; builders must add features like affordable housing, transit shelters, open spaces, and public art, as the City specifies.
  • Streamlined process: The CPPS simplifies development approvals. A CPPS provides new opportunities for collaboration with the development industry to effectively deliver on Barrie's housing pledge.

The Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) project is a key initiative under the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan.

Once approved, the CPPS will apply only to these areas (downtown and Allandale); replacing the Zoning By-law and Site Plan Control By-law in these areas. The rest of the city will continue to follow Zoning By-law 2009-141 (this will stay in place until a new comprehensive zoning by-law takes over).

The proposed CPPS will implement the vision and goals for how Barrie will grow and change, as detailed in the Official Plan. The CPPS will not change this vision or disregard the previous work the City has completed and what it has heard from you in previous consultations.

This is a city-led project, and includes the expertise of Hertel Planning, who have engaged the following topic-specific consultants:

  • Agent Urban – Heritage & Community Design
  • Perkins&Will – Community Design
  • LURA – Communications & Public Engagement
  • NBLC – Housing Market Analysis
  • CLOSED: Responses to this survey were accepted until January 19, 2026.

    Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) Survey: Downtown & Allandale Major Transit Station Area

    Thank you for taking part in this survey. 

    The City of Barrie is exploring the use of a community planning permit system (CPPS) for Downtown and the Allandale Major Transit Station Area. Please review the information on the project page at BuildingBarrie.ca/CPPS before taking the survey. 

    Your input will help shape the development of the CPPS, including community priorities and the process itself. The survey will inform a draft CPPS By-law, which will be shared with the community for further consultation in 2026. 

    Responses will be accepted until January 19, 2026. 

    This survey will take 8–10 minutes to complete. 


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Page last updated: 13 Feb 2026, 04:11 PM