Belleville is heading to a population nearing 60,000 in 20 years, but the population is in the “aging” category.
Consultant Jamie Cook of Watson Associates Economists told the city’s Planning Committee this week that the 75-plus population category will double by 2041.
Cook was reporting on the municipal review of urban area with the official plan update.
It predicts housing growth above average over the next five years. Cook says the city doesn’t have a lot of land to be sold for industrial development and said there is a need for this type of land and predicts a challenge to accommodate new industry.
The report pointed to five sites that should be converted to residential and mixed use.
One of those is the Stephens Adamson building on the Bayshore.
Cook pointed to a possible agriculture-industrial land swap north of Highway 401, which he said would “strengthen the North East Industrial Park area.”
The comprehensive review of the urban service area is part of the city’s overall Official Plan Update.
