City Council meeting overview package for April 13, 2026

Peterborough, ON - City Council will consider the following items during its General Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026:

• Amending the Zoning By-law for 349 Parkhill Rd. E. to permit a six-storey apartment building with up to 75 dwelling units;
• An update on the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives;
• Increasing the budget to connect the City Hall generator to the entire building to $135,000 from $100,000 and awarding the contract for the work to Barry Electrical Contractor Inc.;
• A report for information on the Development Charge Reserve Funds 2026 Annual Report;
• Extending a Street Furniture Sponsorship Agreement between the City and Bench Press for a 10-year term, effective May 1, 2026;
• A recommendation from Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 123 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A recommendation from Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 172-174 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A report to inform Council that the owner of 310-314 George St. N. has submitted an objection to Council's Notice of Intention to designate their property under the Ontario Heritage Act, and a recommendation that Council proceed with the heritage designation;
• A report for information regarding a complaint filed under section 20 of the Development Charges Act, 1997 by the owners of 280 Jamieson Dr. regarding the imposition of development charges, with a statutory meeting for Council to consider the matter scheduled to be held on April 20, 2026; and
• Extending an agreement with Selwyn Township for the continued operation of the Link Transit Service program by Peterborough Transit in Selwyn for an additional 13 months, until April 30, 2027.

Council meetings are livestreamed at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil. Agendas and recordings of meetings are posted at peterborough.ca/agendas.

Before the public portion of the meeting, Council will hold a closed session meeting starting at 4:30 p.m. to consider eight items as permitted under the Municipal Act, 2001, including:

• Section 239(2)(c) A proposed or pending acquisition of land by the municipality - Lands
• Section 239(2)(c) A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality - Proposed land acquisition
• Section 239(2)(c) A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality - Encroachment
• Section 239(2)(c) A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality - City land
• Section 239(2)(f) Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege and (e) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality - Donation
• Section 239(2)(f) Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege and (e) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality - Donation
• Section 239(2)(f) Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege and (e) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality - Litigation
• Section 239(2)(k) A position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board and (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege - Plan

Zoning By-law amendment: 349 Parkhill Rd. E.

Council will consider amending the Zoning By-law for 349 Parkhill Rd. E. to permit a six-storey apartment building with up to 75 dwelling units.

The property is on the South side of Parkhill Road East, next to the west bank of the Trent-Severn Waterway Canal. The residential neighbourhood streets of Juliet Road and Woodbine Avenue are west and south of the property. There are no buildings or structures on the property.

The property is currently zoned to allow for a three-story, 55-unit apartment building.

A concurrent application for Site Plan Approval is under review to address the detailed design of the proposed development. The Site Plan Approval and agreement will address technical design details pertaining to:

• The installation of a flashing beacon on top of the existing hidden driveway sign at the Warsaw Swing Bridge;
• Constructing a pedestrian connection to the nearest transit stop;
• Monitoring arrangements with Parks Canada for vibration impacts during construction; and,
• Payment for the development’s proportionate share of downstream sanitary sewer upgrades.

The proposed zoning change is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement and conforms to the City’s Official Plan.

The proposed Zoning By-Law amendment builds upon the original application processed in 2021 by accommodating growth and intensification consistent with the City’s new Official Plan. The setback relief continues to situate the proposed building adjacent to the canal, while maximizing the distance of the building from the adjacent residential properties to the south and west.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program update

Council will consider an update on the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including a plan for DEI and anti-racism training for Council and City staff, an Inclusion Framework and Outcomes approach for implementing and measuring DEI work, and proposed amendments to the Council Code of Conduct.

The City's DEI work includes, but is not limited to, policy updates, program reviews, improved recruitment and hiring practices, upholding the City’s duty to accommodate, collecting DEI-related data, building alignment across teams, strengthening community partnerships, and advising on research.

To further support the City’s role in fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment, DEI work also includes a DEI and anti-racism training plan, which includes dedicated facilitated training for Council, and a phased approach for all City staff that offers a combination of short online learning opportunities with longer, in-person workshops. The aim of this training model is to provide all participants with a foundational understanding of the key themes underlying systems of inequity and oppression along with practical tools for identifying and addressing issues of discrimination, and to offer guidance for applying an inclusion lens to municipal operations and decision-making. 

The City has made significant progress in strengthening its DEI foundation to promote an inclusive workplace, enhance community well-being, and align with best practices in the municipal sector. DEI initiatives help the City in fulfilling its duty as a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities: to be a guardian of the public interest, to respect and promote human rights, and to provide residents with a safe and inclusive environment.

Development Charge Reserve Funds 2025 Report

Council will consider a report for information on the Development Charge Reserve Funds 2026 Annual Report.

In 2025, the City earned $6.5 million in Development Charge (DC) revenue. Including interest earned and transfers to capital projects, the balance in the DC Reserve Funds on December 31, 2025, was $30.3 million.

Nine of the 22 sub reserves have deficit (overdrawn) balances and are the results of expenditures being incurred in anticipation of development taking place.

Although the balance in the Development Charge Reserve Funds (DCRFs), at December 31, 2025, was $30.3 million, there are $145.6 million in commitments that have been approved in the 2025 and prior years’ capital budgets requiring future Development Charges, which includes $124.9 million in existing debt principal and interest payments, issued and outstanding on growth related capital works already completed.

The future of DCRFs is a concern. There will be insufficient funds in the DCRFs to cover the commitments as the projects are completed and the DCRFs will continue to rely heavily on the issuance of debt.

Given the challenging economic climate for developers, staff have contemplated the reduction of development charges in the city’s growth areas to stimulate residential development. Given the City has already incurred the outlay of cash required to build the infrastructure to enable the growth to occur and done so under the premise that the monies would be collected from the development community at a future time, reducing the development charges requires the taxpayer to fund the reserve shortfalls. Where investment has already occurred, the Area Specific Development Charges (ASDC) reserve funds are all in a deficit cash position, all with additional future commitments against the reserves. 

On March 30, 2026, the federal and Ontario governments announced a joint $8.8-billion infrastructure funding agreement designed to help municipalities accelerate housing construction by offsetting reduced development charges. Each level of government will contribute $4.4 billion over 10 years, allowing municipalities to lower development charges by 50% for the next three years without absorbing the financial loss. Municipalities will be required to identify priority infrastructure projects—such as water, wastewater, and transportation upgrades—that directly support new housing supply to receive funding. It is unclear if the funding will be provided through application-based infrastructure programs or an allocation.

Street furniture sponsorship agreement

Council will consider extending a Street Furniture Sponsorship Agreement between the City and Bench Press for a 10-year term, effective May 1, 2026.

The Bench Press provides street furniture at City transit stops and along downtown pedestrian corridors with benches and waste collection receptacles. The Bench Press currently manages and maintains more than 60 pieces of street furniture in the City. 

The Bench Press provides the street furniture, including installation and maintenance. It sells advertising on the street furniture as part of the agreement.

The Bench Press currently provides about 22 waste collection bins in the downtown. The City’s Public Works division collects waste from the receptacles. The current inventory of Downtown waste collection bins is more than 15 years old. As part of the 10-year extension of the agreement with the City, the Bench Press will replace its inventory of downtown street furniture.

Heritage designation: 123 Simcoe St.

Council will consider a recommendation from Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 123 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

123 Simcoe Street has cultural heritage value as the first building in Peterborough to be erected exclusively for banking purposes. Built between 1857 and 1858 as the Bank of Montreal, the bank’s first agent was prominent businessman Robert Nicholls, husband of Peterborough’s most notable Victorian philanthropist Charlotte Nicholls. It was the Bank of Montreal until 1910 when it was acquired by the Peterborough Club, a private social club with a legacy of philanthropy. The Peterborough Club did not return to the building after a fire in 1991.

The building is an excellent early example of mid-nineteenth century Italianate-style commercial architecture. It is a rare surviving example of a mansard roof, which was added in the 1880s. Contextually, it is historically linked to its surroundings as a reminder of the area’s commercial past. It was one of only two Victorian structures spared in the construction of Peterborough Square.

Heritage designation: 172-174 Simcoe St.

Council will consider a recommendation from Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 172-174 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

172-174 Simcoe Street has cultural heritage value as the former King George Hotel, a longstanding hotel and music venue in downtown Peterborough. The building’s Italianate façade, distinguished by its unique use of red and buff brick on the upper storeys, makes it an important and visually prominent element of the historic Simcoe Street streetscape. Historically, the property is significant for its long association with the King George Hotel, with notable proprietors including Robert N. Roddy, Mary Bowman, and David N. King. In 1967, Canadian folk singer Stompin’ Tom Connors famously acquired his iconic “Stompin’” moniker while performing at the hotel. Contextually, 172–174 Simcoe Street is a landmark, representing one of the few
remaining Victorian-era commercial buildings on Simcoe Street.

Development Charges, 280 Jameson Dr.

Council will consider a report for information regarding a complaint filed under section 20 of the Development Charges Act, 1997 by the owners of 280 Jamieson Dr. regarding the imposition of development charges, with a statutory meeting for Council to consider the matter scheduled to be held on April 20, 2026.

Schedule D of By-law 19-095 and 19-096, as amended, exempted 280 Jameson Dr. from development charges through Provision 17 (b). However, By-law 24-081 removed nine of ten industrial properties listed from Schedule D, including the 280 Jameson Dr. property. 

On August 28, 2023, a conditional building permit was issued for site servicing, footings, below-slab services, and slab-on grade while a full building permit was issued on January 30, 2024. At the time of building permit issuance, the development was subject to Development Charge By-laws 19-095 and By-law 19-096, as amended, which exempted the proposed construction from City development charges.

On May 8, 2025, a Site Plan Application was filed for Phase 2 and was deemed complete on May 27, 2025. Final approval has not yet been received. 

September 23, 2025, the owner disputed the applicability of City DCs. City staff confirmed the Property was no longer exempt, with the passage of By-Laws 24- 081 and 25-100.