Keswick of the future: 40% more residents, jobs by 2051

Georgina plans for tourism, residential development and retail in the Keswick Secondary Plan

Yorkregion.com
July 31, 2023
Amanda Persico

Live in Keswick and want to know what the community will look like in the next 30 years?

After years of planning, the town has approved the Keswick Secondary Plan -- a long-range plan guiding future growth and development for the area.

Keswick, which encompasses about 4,250 acres, is the largest urban centre in Georgina, and its population and the number of jobs are expected to grow by more than 40 per cent over the next three decades.

“This is one of the most important plans for Georgina and the community of Keswick,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk.

“Keswick is the largest urban community in the town, and it is where the majority of future growth and development will be directed.”

The guiding principals behind the Keswick Secondary Plan include developing a complete community; ensuring a mix of housing types and options and development types to meet the town’s growth targets; strengthening community identity through community nodes, corridors and a public realm; and connecting Lake Simcoe’s natural heritage features through public parks and open spaces.

About a third of all new development in Keswick is slated between just north of Old Homestead Road to the north, Ravenshoe Road to the south, Woodbine to the east and Lake Simcoe to the west -- the Delineated Built-up Area.

Within the Delineated Built-up Area, there are three urban areas planned as destinations for future residents, tourists and businesses: Glenwoods Urban Area, Maskinonge Urban Area and Uptown Keswick.

Glenwoods Urban Area and Uptown Keswick are pinned for future residential and specialized office, boutique retail and restaurants, respectively. And the Maskinonge Urban Area is pinned for tourism-related businesses such as restaurants, hotels, marinas, boat rentals and other recreational business along the shores of Lake Simcoe.

Woodbine Avenue and the Queensway are to become major mixed-use corridors, with plans for the Queensway to intensify over time into a mixed-use, mid-rise area. Meanwhile, Woodbine will be home to retail, office buildings and public facilities.

While the Keswick Business Park lands are not included in the Keswick secondary plan, the two are intrinsically linked as the Keswick Business Park is expected accommodate 7,500 to 9,000 jobs at full build-out.

For more information or to read more about the Keswick Secondary Plan, visit georgina.ca.