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Council raises concerns over massive development proposed by province

May 7, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

A massive development proposed by the province is causing significant concern among residents and New Tecumseth council, who view the plan as too big and too ambitious, with no realistic way of accommodating the infrastructure required for such a project.

The original plan for development in the region had most of the new buildings going up in Alliston, with Beeton limited to development around Beeton Manor and no new development in Tottenham.

A new proposal released by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on April 8 has a plan for New Tecumseth and the surrounding area, including Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, Essa, and Adjala-Tosorontio.

The province’s new proposal calls for two new developments in Tottenham: a 153-hectare plan on the east side of town that would include 1,874 homes, and a second development on the north side of town encompassing 433 hectares and 3,700 homes.

In Beeton, the proposed development would include 251.17 hectares and 10,700 homes.

The plan calls for Alliston to see a massive project over 1,955 acres with 12,700 new homes built on the south side of town and 1,231 new homes on 78 hectares.

Some local residents reacted with surprise and shock at the new proposal.

Residents in Tottenham are already experiencing heavy traffic at certain times of day from commuters passing through and jamming the downtown area, which was not designed to handle that many cars every day. Doubling the town’s size is seen as creating a major headache for everyone in town.

In Beeton, most residents seem happy with the town’s size and don’t want major development.

New Tecumseth Town council was blindsided by a new proposal from the province and called a special meeting in council chambers to discuss the issue on Wednesday, April 29.

Ward 6 Councillor Nicole Cox said the new plan will push more development onto prime agricultural land and is not the plan residents were expecting. Residents understood the original plan was to be the one that steers the direction of development in the town.

“We can’t ignore this is also the scenario (Plan one) that was most supported by the public, by residents who participated in this process, expecting to be heard and to be represented by the people who they elected,” Councillor Cox said.

Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan said, “Public discomfort must be acknowledged when evaluating this amendment and its broader implications for the community.”

Deputy Mayor MacLellan continued, “The implications of the provincial priority projects are unresolved and not aligned with established planning principles,” adding, “the risks undermine the very framework designed to manage growth responsibly.”

A discussion over growth in South Simcoe also raised many concerns.

Ward 5 Coun. Marc Biss arrived at the meeting with information and figures that will affect the region as a whole.

Coun. Biss detailed the massive cost of infrastructure that will be needed in the region if the plan is carried out, including a new water treatment plant, a new wastewater treatment plant, and new highways.

The plan calls for job creation for 980 residents. However, with 80,000 new residents expected to arrive, Councillor Biss said accommodating them would be a huge project.

“When you take a look at 80,000 residents that are going to be commuting from Alliston, Tottenham, Beeton, to the 400 (highway) every day, we’re going to need a bypass, two bypasses, in fact,” Coun. Biss said.

He pointed out the new roads that will be required to accommodate that many people.

With a plan to create a city the size of Barrie, Coun. Biss said it will then require public transit, including light rail transit.

The expected cost of all this infrastructure will be in the billions of dollars.

Council passed a motion to send a letter to the province detailing its concerns with the new provincial proposal. 

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