‘Desirable for many reasons’: Bradford among state’s fastest-growing communities

With the help of local residents, Bradford’s plan to add nearly 35,000 jobs and 19,000 more jobs over the next 2.5 years is taking shape.

The town’s senior planner, Mana Masoudi, updates council on the town’s status ongoing growth management planand the public engagement efforts so far, particularly at the regular council meeting on Nov. 19.

Mayor James Leduc called the new report “exciting” and said he was “impressed” by the public input.

Since the public process begins with a process Public meeting on June 25Masoudi explained in a report that the town, WSP and Watson and Associates Economists hosted and led two visioning workshops on Oct. 16 so residents could provide feedback on issues such as residential densification and growth around the Bradford GO Transit station and Bridge. Street and urban boundary expansions.

Approximately 70 people attend both sessions, with feedback most frequently from residents (43%) regarding urban boundary expansion, which prioritizes protecting rural and farmland while supporting infrastructure improvements, the report says. particularly in relation to Brownlee Drive. and the need for green space in general.

Approximately 27 percent of comments were related to the densification strategy and included concerns about density and loss of green space; It included a preference for mixed-use development and walkable, connected centers, as well as a desire to create a sense of community while increasing the town’s appeal to outsiders. society.

About 10 percent of the comments were about growth around the GO station, emphasizing careful planning for traffic and transit expansion while favoring mid-rise buildings and mixed-use areas.

Roughly five percent of comments were concerned about the Bridge Street corridor, which is seen as a vital growth area requiring thoughtful urban design and traffic management. Some residents concerned about the impact of traffic on the street have suggested a possible “traffic relief valve” in the area.

About five percent of the comments were about Highway 400 Employment Lands, and nearly 400 emphasized the need for strategic planning for essential services, including proposals for medical facilities such as hospitals.

Another five percent focused on the environment and the need for green development and energy efficient policies.

Despite the turnout, Ward 5 Coun. Peter Ferragine hoped more people would get involved in shaping the town’s future.

“I would really like to see more residents participate,” he said. “To everyone at home, if you don’t show up, don’t complain.”

Main Transit Station Area

The majority of growth in Bradford is expected to take place within the Main Transit Station Area (MTSA), which includes a half-mile radius around GO station where higher and denser developments are expected.

Leduc emphasized the importance of focusing on this area, where there is a target of 150 people and employment per hectare.

“This is huge,” he said. “The numbers are tough, but it can be done.”

County of Simcoe Official Plan Amendment No. Following the guidance of SCOPA 7 and through workshops, staff and consultants developed three potential options for MTSA’s boundaries.

All three options avoid areas within the Greenbelt Plan or Holland Swamp and all include: properties fronting Bridge Street east of the West Holland River, properties along Dissette Street north to the intersection with Tomizza Street/Baynes Road, Barrie Street/Simcoe Properties along Holland Street just west of the four corners intersection with Road and as far south as Center Street.

One option envisions the southern boundary extending to properties fronting Edward Street, while the other would go to Marshview Boulevard.

The boundary may include neighborhoods east of Barrie Street up to Britannia Boulevard or go only as far as Scanlon Boulevard.

The Planning Act prohibits the town from setting minimum parking under the MTSA, as a result of amendments to State Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, which received royal assent on June 6.

Updated Growth Figures

Masoudi’s report also summarizes some of Watson and Associates’ findings about the town’s growth review and allocations.

Figures show Bradford has been a local leader in growth in recent years; Population growth increased from 23,100 in 2021 to 48,600 in 2024. There was a population increase of approximately 25,500. From 2016 to 2021, Bradford’s annual growth rate was around four per cent, compared to a 2.2 per cent county average and a provincial average of 1.4 per cent.

Over the last five years, Bradford has accounted for approximately 15 per cent of the borough’s population growth, and this share is expected to rise to 17 per cent by 2051.

“We will grow because our location is highly desirable for many reasons,” said Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu.

Although 81 per cent of new housing developments in Bradford have been low density in the last four years, from now until 2051 only 58 per cent are expected to be low density, 22 per cent medium density and 20 per cent high density.

This is expected to reflect increasing demand for affordable housing and an increasing proportion of the population aged 65 and over.

Watson said the town will add about 440 units annually from 2021 to 2026, increasing to 580 units annually from 2026 to 2041, then increasing to about 550 units annually from 2041 to 2046 and annually from 2046 to 2051. He predicts that it will gradually decrease to 530.

Approximately 6,600 of these new units are intended to be built in the existing residential area of ​​the city where MTSA will be located.

Ward 6 Issue. Nickolas Harper called the report “very enlightening” but felt that the growth forecasts were too heavily influenced by trends in previous years and did not reflect the fact that construction had recently “ground to a halt”.

“We’re really still at the peak of the (COVID-19) pandemic exodus,” he said, suggesting the town may not grow as quickly as expected. “It’s okay if we don’t get there.”

The mayor said the town will see increased growth whether it reaches its 2051 goals or not.

“We will be ready and we will be able to achieve this,” he said.

Next steps

Going forward, several more reports are expected to address concentration, growth and other opportunities in the town’s employment areas; Opportunities for MTSA; and identify both short-term and long-term growth areas.

It’s all part of the job growth planBradford’s population and employment are expected to reach 84,370 and 30,900 respectively by 2051. Efforts continue to update official plan — helps determine municipal boundaries, where water and sewer services will be provided, the future location of homes, schools, parks and businesses, and more.

The growth plan is divided into two parts, with work on both (Part 1, intensification and Part 2, expansion of settlement boundaries) expected to be carried out simultaneously and reports to council and public meetings expected to continue until autumn 2025.

For more information, visit: townofbwg.com/planbwg2051or email (email protected).