City talks trade with church; Parkland fees could be exchanged for soccer field use

Posted By BOB BRUTON

Posted 8 days ago

The city could cut a deal with a south-end church, trading parks fees for a soccer pitch.

Barrie councillors decided Monday that staff should meet with Mapleview Community Church officials in an attempt to negotiate a deal.

It could save the church a $175,000 fee - cash in lieu of parkland - in exchange for city use of an adult soccer field with lights.

"We do have to think outside the box," Coun. John Brassard said. "One of the challenges the city is facing is the need for services, including parks and recreation facilities.

"This is a real opportunity for us to partner with places of worship."

Mapleview Community Church has 18 acres of property on Marsellus Drive. Rev. James Davis, the founding pastor, says sports fields, park areas, recreation and child care buildings and large parking lots could all be in this one area.

The church facilities could also be used as a disaster relief centre, in case of an emergency.

"Imagine if a city and church could work together in a few very specific sectors to reach these objectives," said Rev. Davis in a letter to Brassard.

"Voluntary co-operation between a highly motivated church body and local government could provide benefits never explored before."

While Barrie councillors agreed that talks should at least take place between church officials and city staff about the trade-off, there were also doubts expressed.

"The problem with exempting somebody is that someone else has to pay, and that someone is usually the taxpayer," Coun. Barry Ward said.

"At some point, we are going to have to decide where to draw the line in the sand."

Mayor Dave Aspden agreed.

"Some day, or night, we are going to have to say no to something, or we are not going to have these low tax increases," he said.

The blended municipal/education property tax increase for city homeowners this year is 3.07 per cent. Last year it was 2.98 per cent.

Brassard had originally asked that religious organizations developing with affiliated recreation facilities be given the break on parkland fees.

It was basically a policy change, but Ward suggested that this matter be dealt with on a case-by-case basis - starting with Mapleview Community Church.

Coun. Michael Prowse said it makes little difference, in practical terms.

"The net effect is we are really going to change the policy. They (other religious groups) are going to start to come forward to make their arguments," he said.

"There are tons of them, so we had better be prepared to exempt all of them. They can all make the argument about the value they bring to the community."

"I definitely get more concerned about one-offs, rather than a policy change," Coun. Jeff Lehman said.

But Coun. Mike Ramsay said dealing with such issues separately is the best way.

"I'm sure a soccer field goes for a minimum of $175,000, with the lights and the irrigation," he said. "We should be able to cut through the red tape on certain issues."

Typical developments in Barrie are expected to include five per cent of the property dedicated to the city for parkland, or the cash value of this land. In Mapleview Community Church's case, that's $175,000.

Contact the writer at

bbruton@thebarrieexaminer.com