Township of Springwater, Ontario

“A Community of Communities”

Business View Magazine interviews Township of Springwater Mayor, Don Allen, and CAO Jeff Schmidt, for our focus on Township of Springwater, Ontario

In 1994, the Township of Springwater, Ontario was born, bringing together the communities of Anten Mills, Centre Vespra, Elmvale, Hillsdale, Midhurst, Minesing, Phelpston, Orr Lake, and Snow Valley. Nestled between the City of Barrie and the Town of Wasaga Beach, and one hour north of Toronto, Springwater is an ideal location for those looking for a unique mixed rural/urban experience with proximity to the amenities of a larger metropolitan area.

One of 16 municipalities in the County of Simcoe, the township is comprised of small urban centers and rural farming communities. Springwater Mayor, Don Allen, shares, “We are strategically positioned in the center of Simcoe County with convenient access to urban, rural, and recreational areas through regional and provincial highways. Springwater’s uniqueness combines small town charm with urban access, close proximity to schools and post-secondary education, four season recreational opportunities, and excellent supporting infrastructure. We also have access to one of the largest tracts of forest through the Simcoe County forests, offering many trails and activities throughout the year.”

Midhurst and Elmvale are home to the majority of Springwater’s 22,700 residents, with the township expecting an estimated 67% growth over the next 10 years. “Growing development continues to be a major factor in Springwater and dealing with managing the growth is an ongoing challenge,” Mayor Allen explains. “Development is coming fast and furious. It is estimated that the township will reach a population base of 37,800 by 2031, an increase of 15,100 people.” The population of Springwater covers a broad spectrum – from young families, to retirees, and everyone in between. Farming employs a significant portion of the workforce, while others commute to work in the larger cities south of the municipality. As GO Transit services from Barrie to Toronto are continuously improved, Springwater is becoming a more attractive location for commuters, especially in the area of the township on the northern edge of the City of Barrie.

Mayor, Don Allen, and CAO Jeff Schmidt

Broadband is an ongoing challenge for the community and a committee has been put together to try to address the issue. The group is made up of members of council and township staff. Jeff Schmidt, Springwater CAO, explains, “The intent of the committee is to advocate as much as we can to have the private industries come and provide for that infrastructure, and also to try to support them through any potential funding applications they may want to apply for through federal or provincial funds. We are pushing to ensure that each one of our new developments have broadband or fiber within the communities.”

Schmidt shares that a resident recently came before council, seeking support to establish his own broadband infrastructure, something his neighborhood was on board with. “People have moved up here with the expectation that they would have broadband,” says Schmidt. “In some cases, maybe that expectation hasn’t been quite met.” SWIFT (Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology), a key municipally-led broadband expansion project in Ontario, has announced plans to begin projects in the communities of Anten Mills, Hillsdale, Phelpston, and Snow Valley. In addition, the Township has recently been advised of a Federal/Provincial announcement whereby Springwater and a number of other smaller communities in Ontario could see an investment of up to $140M which would benefit over 43,000 households and businesses.

In 2003, the Midhurst Secondary Plan was initiated to guide development in Midhurst. After years of planning approvals, , phase 1A of the Midhurst Valley plan finally broke ground in 2020. This first phase of development, called the Micks Subdivision, will include 342 detached and semi-detached housing units. Allen reports, “The tree clearing, and groundworks occurred in the latter half of 2020. And the internal infrastructure works for the subdivision are continuing into 2021. Work has commenced on the water and wastewater treatment plants which is ongoing.” Overall, the Midhurst Secondary Plan provides room for the development of 10,000 residential units, or approximately 30,000 people within the next 20 years. Although the model homes are just starting to be built, Allen shares the popularity of the project, “The sales center for Midhurst Valley was built and just opened in October to the public. Within 10 days of opening, all 270 of the initially released homes were sold, and the remaining 72 of the 342 single detached homes in phase 1A will be sold by the end of this year.”

Development company Geranium is one of four builders approved to begin working on the first phase which is expected to begin in early 2022. Mayor Allen shares, “Springwater has worked with Geranium since the Midhurst Secondary Plan was initiated in 2003. Over the years Geranium has worked hard with Springwater Staff and Council to bring to fruition this year the start of building this significant development. We take pride in the professional productive business relationship we have with Geranium and look forward to the evolution of this project and the positive contribution it will make to our municipality.” Brookfield Residential, Countrywide Homes, and Sundance Homes are the other builders involved in the development of the Micks Subdivision.

Commercial development is also on the agenda, with plans for the Snow Valley Road and Bayfield Street Corridor. Schmidt reports, “Servicing is not yet available on that corridor, however once the construction of the water and wastewater treatment plants have been completed, that whole area will start to change, and servicing will be available. So, we will likely see lots of commercial and or industrial type development commence in that location, it’s just a matter of time.” Currently, there is a study underway called the Bayfield Street Corridor Study that is looking into what future development might look like in that area of the township, including possible retail and commercial opportunities.

The Township of Springwater has also been working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to negotiate the purchase of a 50-acre parcel of land called the Hasty Tract. This purchase was finalized in 2020, at a cost of $3,884,846. Mayor Allen recounts, “The municipal services proposed for this land include a new fire station, fire service training area, sports recreation complex, library, creative space, and other potential municipal facilities.” Simcoe County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are also working with the township to add a facility beside the new fire station, both of which are now in the planning stages. “This will be a very significant development for us over the next five to ten years and will serve as a southern gateway to Midhurst and Springwater,” adds Allen. The township will be undertaking a Master Plan, which will include significant public consultation in an effort to determine the exact amenities that are to be constructed on the remaining portion of this property.

On the environmental side, Springwater is partnering with local indigenous communities for the removal of trees on the Hasty Tract site. “They have an interest in utilizing some of those trees and also partnering with us for possible community gardens and such on the property,” says Schmidt. “We don’t want to go in there and just clear cut. We will do what we can to ensure we preserve as much of the natural footprint as possible. In order to do so, the township has engaged the services of a professional arborist to prepare a tree preservation plan.”

The township is also home to several solar farms and has worked with the county to install EV charging stations in nine locations throughout Springwater. The Township Administration Centre, constructed in 2008, is a silver LEED certified building, and all future building in the municipality is planned with sustainability in mind. Schmidt describes, “All of our new development, whether it be Midhurst or Centre Vespra, or other areas, will be smart development. This includes LID (low impact development) systems, making sure we are sustainable, and this will also carry over to our new fire station and potentially our new recreation complex where we will also be looking to ensure that they are built with long-term sustainably in mind.”

The handling of COVID-19 in the early days is something Mayor Allen believes is a point of pride for Springwater. He shares, “We, as a municipality, through the leadership of Jeff Schmidt, handled the COVID-19 situation very well. We kept Council and staff informed, our communication with residents and businesses was very good, and our numbers stayed down. We are very proud of that.”

As the township moves forward, there has been a turnover in management, which has offered an opportunity for restructuring and review – a positive step for the community. According to Mayor Allen, “We are restructuring our corporate organization, we are updating our official plan, we’re reviewing our long range financial plan. A lot has gone on notwithstanding COVID over the last two years, and we are very proud of that. As a result, we are in a very good position financially and making a lot of progress on many different fronts.”

Springwater is an idyllic collection of communities, with the charm of small town Ontario, close to the advantages of big city life. It is no wonder so many people are choosing the Township of Springwater as a place to call home.

AT A GLANCE

Township of Springwater, Ontario

What: A rapidly growing municipality; population 22,700

Where: Simcoe County, Ontario, one hour north of Toronto

Website: www.springwater.ca