Not too long ago, Barrie s population hit 100,000. Barrie is projecting growth of 45 per cent over the next 10 years. By 2021, the population is projected to hit 185,000. The county as a whole is expected to grow by 250,000 people between 1999 and 2026. The big challenge for the future, of course, is to plan for that growth.
Development has to be serviced.
Growth has to be managed in a way that allows the area to maintain and improve its economic competitiveness. It has to be managed in a way that maintains the quality of life, which is so important to the people who ve chosen to live here. It has to be managed in a way that ensures our resources are used wisely, strategically and well. This approach is commonly referred to as Smart Growth. Smart Growth is a common sense approach to growth.