Barrie residents will have the chance to share their feedback on a new proposal to restrict certain business types in the city during a public meeting on June 3, 2026. The Affordability Committee will host the session at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, with an option for community members to participate virtually.
The meeting follows a broader plan introduced by Mayor Alex Nuttall in April 2026, which calls for stricter enforcement of drug laws and targets the operation of illegal retail storefronts, such as mushroom shops. As part of this plan, the city is moving to amend its zoning rules to disqualify illegal uses in areas where retail is permitted.
The motion, approved by City Council in an 8-2 vote, also includes new staffing measures for the city’s outreach efforts. Five permanent, full-time positions are being added to the Encampment Response team, including a program manager, a team lead, and three response officers. These changes build on the city’s ongoing efforts to manage encampments, an issue for which the mayor previously declared a state of emergency in September 2025.
Residents interested in learning more about the proposed changes to the zoning by-law can review the official Notice of Public Meeting provided by the city. The committee will use the input gathered from the public to help guide the next steps for the zoning amendment.
