City Council meeting overview package for August 5, 2025

Peterborough, ON - City Council endorsed the following items during its General Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., on Tuesday, August 5, 2025:

• The March 31, 2025 quarterly financial report (unaudited), and associated recommendations;
• A report to update Council on the proposed application to amend the Zoning By-law for
  1341 Water Street to permit an 8-storey apartment building;
• An update on the City's physician recruitment pilot program and a recommendation to make the pilot program a regular, ongoing program starting in 2026;
• A report on a pedestrian crossing program for collector roads, including six locations that would be prioritized for implementation this year;
• Installing permanent traffic calming measures in the Sherburne Street, Highland Road, and High Street neighbourhoods;
• An update on considering the designation of listed heritage properties, with the initial list of 56 prioritized properties presented as part of report IPGPL25-015 dated March 10, 2025 now reduced to 42 properties through removal of properties under Council direction or recent consideration of designation, including removing 297 Hunter St. W. from the list of prioritized properties;
• A recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 216 Simcoe Street be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 183 Hunter St. W. be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 441 Rubidge Street be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 1290 Hilliard Street be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• Providing $490,000 plus tax for continuing the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) advised monitoring and reporting requirements related to Jackson Creek;
• A plan for proceeding with the renewal of the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, as required by the Province of Ontario;
• Providing an unsecured capital loan of up to $1 million to Thrive Housing and Support to repair
  critical affordable housing infrastructure, including aging sewer lines and failing retaining walls, at its Towerhill Village affordable housing property;
• Notice of motion by Councillor Don Vassiliadis - That staff be directed to prepare a report outlining the operational, financial, and environmental implications of extending the hours of operation at the municipal landfill; that the report include options for extended hours from Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, potential staffing and cost impacts, and any anticipated changes in service levels or usage; and that the report be considered by the Waste Management Committee before being presented to Council for consideration during the upcoming budget deliberations;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, regarding acquisition and use of land, respecting the property known municipally as Trent University;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, regarding land acquisition, respecting the property known municipally as 2317 Television Rd. and 2000 Television Rd.;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services respecting the disposition and road widening of 1529 and 1533 Sherbrooke St., Peterborough;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the City Solicitor respecting settlement of litigation and acquisition of property; and
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner of Finance and Corporate Support Services respecting financing to The Mount Community Centre for its purchase of 780 Argyle St., and that a by-law be passed to authorize the borrowing of $4.5 million to help finance the purchase of 780 Argyle St., Peterborough to be undertaken by The Mount Community Centre.

Council deferred recommendations on a new framework that transitions the Community Project Grants, Community Investment Grants and Arts Investment Fund programs into a Community Wellbeing Fund.

Before the regular General Committee meeting, Council held a Special General Committee meeting for a presentation on the Amended City-wide Development Charge Background Study and public delegations on the item.

Items endorsed by General Committee will proceed to the regular Council meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025 to be considered for final approval.

The meeting is livestreamed at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil. Agendas and recordings of meetings are posted at peterborough.ca/agendas.

To speak as a registered delegation at a Council meeting, individuals must register no later than 11 a.m. on the day of the meeting. To register, complete the online application at peterborough.ca/delegation, or phone 705-742-7777 ext. 1820.

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

• Section 239(2)(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality - Acquisition and Use of Lands
• Section 239(2)(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality - Land Acquisition
• Section 239(2)(f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege and (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land - Property Disposition
• Section 239(2)(f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, (e) litigation or potential litigation and (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition - 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 - Monetary Plan 

City-wide Development Charges Study amendment

Council endorsed receiving a presentation on the Amended City-wide Development Charge Background Study and public delegations on the item.

The updated growth-related costs of the sanitary capital program are lower than those included in the original City-wide Development Charges Study, dated September 6, 2024. Since the passage of By-law 24-081, the City has received grants which reduce the net cost of certain growth-related capital projects.

The proposed amended rate for the City-wide DC residential rate (Singles and Semis) to take effect September 2, 2025, would be 3.3% less than the current rate ($70,953 to $68,604) and the non-residential rate will be 4.2% lower ($268.61 to $257.29).

The recommendation for changes to the City-wide Development Charges rates will be part of a follow-up report that will be presented at the August 25, 2025 General Committee meeting, with the by-law presented for approval consideration on September 2, 2025.

• Amended Development Charges City-wide Background Study, City Council report
• 2024 Amended Development Charges City-wide Background Study
• Draft by-law for City-wide Development Charges

March 31, 2025 Quarterly Financial Report

Council endorsed the March 31, 2025 quarterly financial report (unaudited), and associated recommendations, including:

• That the March 31, 2025 Quarterly Financial Update Report (Unaudited) attached as Appendix A to Report FCSFS25-014, dated August 5, 2025, be received;
• That the $4,075,316 Airport Water and Sewer Upgrades (2022 Capital Budget #18-143) project budget be reduced by the $866,700 Canada Community Building Fund allocation for a total approved budget of $3,208,616; and
• That three new capital projects be created and the Incentives for Affordable Housing (2025 Capital Budget 15882) uncommitted budget be transferred into these projects.

The report includes a summary of net expenses and revenues effective March 31, 2025.

Zoning: 1341 Water St.

Council endorsed an application to amend the Zoning By-law for 1341 Water St. to permit an eight-storey apartment building.

The property is on the west side of Water Street, just north of Carnegie Avenue.

On June 30, 2025, Council deferred the subject application to amend the Zoning By-law which sought flexibility to allow an eight-storey student-focused apartment building with up to 219 dwelling units and reduced parking requirements or a traditional market rental building subject to more traditional Zoning regulations. The deferral was in response to concerns and questions raised at the Statutory Public Meeting held at General Committee on June 23, 2025, and was made pending confirmation from the applicant on the intended use of the property.

The revised concept continues to propose an eight-storey apartment building. The concept provides a unit yield of 159 units with 175 parking spaces and is from the previous student-focused concept that had a unit yield of 219 units with 117 parking spaces. The revised concept is intended to meet traditional Zoning parking regulations for quantity of spaces.

The revised Zoning By-law Amendment (Appendix B) removes any reference to a student rental building and associated reduced parking rates. The Holding Symbol would remain until conditions relating to access and environmental impacts are addressed. 

The current zoning on the property allows an apartment building with up to five stories in height. In August 2023, approval was completed for a site plan with three 5-storey apartment buildings yielding a total of 96 dwelling units.

The site is optimizing its location along a High-Capacity Arterial Road. The site is well served by trails, sidewalks and transit, including a four-lane urban road cross-section. A dedicated northbound left turn lane is required to accommodate traffic turning into this development.

Physician recruitment program

Council endorsed an update on the City's physician recruitment pilot program and a recommendation to make the pilot program a regular, ongoing program starting in 2026.

The recruitment and retention of family physicians to Peterborough is a critical issue for the community and is highlighted in the City’s Strategic Plan. High performing healthcare systems support community wellbeing and drive economic growth.

Analysis included in the report highlights that over 13,000 additional patients risk becoming unattached if aging physicians retire without replacements.

During the current pilot project, in collaboration with community partners, the following have started practicing in the community as of May 2025:

• 6 new Family Health Organization (FHO) physicians, keeping approximately 8,000 patients from becoming unattached
• 1 independent practice physician from the United Kingdom, that has rostered over 2,200 patients
• 3 Community Health Centre (CHC) physicians that are looking after vulnerable sector patients, and they will add more once clinic construction is complete

Council endorsed converting the internal physician recruitment pilot program to a permanent program. Establishing a permanent in-house physician recruitment program will help ensure a sustained and coordinated municipal approach, working closely with partners such as the Peterborough Ontario Health Team, Family Physician Think Tank, and PRHC to design programs and implement a strategic work plan.

The program includes a multi-pronged physician recruitment and retention strategy, including continued financial incentives, refinement of the “Whole of Village” incentive program, and enhanced participation in international recruitment efforts through partnerships like the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (EOPRA).

Pedestrian crossing program

Council endorsed a report on a pedestrian crossing program for collector roads, including six locations that would be prioritized for implementation this year.

In February 2025, in concert with the Safety for Vulnerable Users initiative outlined in the Road Safety Strategy, Council approved a capital budget to initiate a Pedestrian Crossing Program on Collector Roads. 

A review of the collector road network was conducted to identify locations where there is a need for pedestrian crossing infrastructure. Potential pedestrian crossing locations were identified and rated based on multiple criteria:

• distance to the nearest controlled crossing
• collision history
• proximity to key pedestrian generators
• previous crossing requests
• crossing distance
• proximity to a transit stop

Five pedestrian crossing locations have been evaluated and are being recommended for implementation in 2025. These locations include:

• McKeller Street at the Crawford Rail Trail
• Erskine Avenue at the Crawford Rail Trail
• Glenforest Boulevard at Ravenwood Drive
• Park Street North at Hunter Street West
• Walker Avenue at Walker Park

The intersection at Wolsely Street and Donegal Street was identified and evaluated for an Intersection Pedestrian Signal with implementation in 2026, subject to the availability of approved Capital funding in 2026.

Traffic calming

Council endorsed installing permanent traffic calming measures in the Sherburne Street, Highland Road, and High Street neighbourhoods.

For the Sherburne Street and Highland Road neighbourhoods, funding for the permanent traffic calming measures would be included for consideration in the 2026 Capital Budget.

For the High Street neighbourhood, the temporary traffic calming measures would be maintained beyond 2026 until High Street can be funded and reconstructed through a Capital Project, when permanent traffic calming measures can be included as part of the broader reconstruction project.

Temporary traffic calming measures were installed in the Highland Road and High Street neighbourhoods in the fall of 2023, along with a modification to the existing temporary traffic calming measures implemented in the Sherburne Street neighbourhood.

The Sherburne Street neighbourhood temporary traffic calming plan primarily featured rubber speed cushions on Morrow Street and Montgomery Street between Lock Street and Sherburne Street. The results showed a decrease in operating speed from 50 kilometres per hour to 39 kilometres per hour on Morrow Street and a decrease from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on Montgomery Street. Vehicle shortcutting remained consistent on both Morrow Street and Montgomery Street at around 18-23%. Permanent traffic calming measures will include the implementation of concrete or asphalt speed cushions and enhanced pavement markings.

The Highland Road neighbourhood temporary traffic calming plan primarily featured rubber speed cushions and a speed limit reduction to 40 kilometres per hour (further reduced to 30 kilometres per hour fronting Highland Heights Public School as part of the School Area Speed Limit Reduction project). The results showed a decrease in operating speed, ranging from 52 to 58 kilometres per hour in 2021 to a range of 47 to 49 kilometres per hour in 2024. Vehicle shortcutting did not change but remains below the initial screening threshold for low-capacity collector roads in the Traffic Calming Policy. Permanent traffic calming measures will include the implementation of concrete or asphalt speed cushions.

The High Street neighbourhood temporary traffic calming plan primarily featured a change to one-way traffic (southbound) between Sherbrooke Street and Frank Street, and a temporary protected pedestrian pathway created using low wall concrete barriers between Sherbrooke Street and Brunswick Street. A Level 2 Type C pedestrian crossover was implemented on High Street at Chamberlain Street. The results showed a decrease in operating speed, ranging from 49 to 57 kilometres per hour in 2021 to a range of 44 to 49 kilometres per hour in 2024. Vehicle volume decreased 7.7% between Lansdowne Street and St Mary’s Street and decreased 51% between Sherbrooke Street and Frank Street with the implementation of one-way traffic. In the previous 5-years before the implementation of one-way traffic on High Street there were an average of ~2 collision per year at the High Street and Sherbrooke Street intersection. Post implementation there have been no collisions reported at this intersection. Permanent traffic calming measures will include constructing a one-way urban road cross-section with concrete curb and gutter, and sidewalk on High Street between Sherbrooke Street and Brunswick Avenue as part of a road reconstruction project. 

Heritage designation - 216 Simcoe St.

Council endorsed a recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 216 Simcoe St. be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Stevenson Hall at 216 Simcoe Street has cultural heritage value as a landmark structure on Simcoe Street in Peterborough’s downtown core. It is a rare surviving example of a mid-nineteenth century Neoclassical style residence in Peterborough, employing key stylistic elements such as a symmetrical façade adorned with classical order pilasters supporting a decorative frieze. It is a reminder of the area’s past as a residential neighbourhood which evolved into a commercial and industrial area as those sectors expanded.

The building has historical connections to an important figure in Peterborough’s history, sometime mayor and member of Parliament, James Stevenson. In his political offices, Stevenson championed the construction of the Trent Valley Canal (later the TrentSevern Waterway) and the Edison General Electric Company (later Canadian General Electric) in Peterborough. Outside politics, Stevenson was an upstanding resident, serving on the board of education for nearly 60 years, he was as a founding member of the Peterborough Horticultural Society and director of the Little Lake Cemetery Company.

The owner of 216 Simcoe Street was notified that the PACAC had prioritized the property for designation by letter on March 4, 2025. The owner was further notified of the PACAC’s recommendation that Council designate the property by letter on May 7, 2025. As of writing this report, Staff have not had further communication with the owner. 

Heritage designation - 183 Hunter St. W.

Council endorsed a recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 183 Hunter St. W. be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The Bell Telephone Exchange at 183 Hunter Street West has cultural heritage value as a landmark building on Hunter Street in Peterborough’s downtown core. It is a representative example of the Stripped Classicism style, commonly used for telephone exchanges but rare in Peterborough. It utilizes key stylistic elements such as pilasters, decorative brickwork, tiles and ironwork. The bronze plated panels on the door display a high degree of craftsmanship and visually represent Peterborough’s history and role as an industrial centre.

The building has historical value as a reminder of technological advancements in the early twentieth century, namely the introduction of automatic dialing telephones, and the impact these inventions had on people’s lives.

The building is a landmark thanks to its unique architecture, fine decoration and historical associations with the Bell Telephone Company of Canada. It remains widely recognized in the community as the “Bell Telephone Exchange”.

Heritage designation - 441 Rubidge St.

Council endorsed a recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that 441 Rubidge St. be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The former St. Andrew’s Church at 441 Rubidge Street has cultural heritage value as an excellent example of Victorian Gothic Revival style ecclesiastical architecture. Constructed in 1885-86, it is an example of the work of Henry Bauld Gordon which influenced later church designs in the province. It stands as part of philanthropist Charlotte Nicholls’ enduring legacy in Peterborough. The building is also closely associated to the history of religion in Peterborough, standing on the site of the first Presbyterian congregation in the city. It was the first church to be constructed in Peterborough with electric lights. It is a significant landmark set on top of a hill at the head of Brock Street with a vista down the street and visibility from a wide range of vantage points across downtown. It is a defining building in the wider Rubidge Street ‘Church Row’ landscape with important associations for the local community as a community hub in the religious centre of the city.

Heritage designation - 1290 Hilliard St.

Council endorsed a recommendation by the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) that 1290 Hilliard St. be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The property at 1290 Hilliard St. has cultural heritage value as a landmark building in Peterborough’s north end. It is a unique example of the Gothic farmhouse with three gables, rare in Peterborough. It employs key elements of the rural execution of this style including rubble stone construction and hatched windows. It has historical value as a longtime farmhouse and home of the Stothart family. The Stothart family were heavily involved in Peterborough’s farming community in the late nineteenth-early twentieth centuries, organizing agricultural fairs and by contributing to agricultural science nationally. Although businesses related to their ideas or work in the community were not fully realized, they continued to showcase the farming community to the citizens of Peterborough.

The owner of 1290 Hilliard Street was notified that the PACAC had prioritized the property for designation by letter on March 4, 2025. The owner was further notified of the PACAC’s recommendation that Council designate the property by registered mail on June 5, 2025. As of the writing of this report, the property owner has not communicated any concerns to city staff.

Jackson Creek environmental monitoring

Council endorsed providing $490,000 plus tax for continuing the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) advised monitoring and reporting requirements related to Jackson Creek.

The recommendations being considered include:

• That the purchase order issued to Cambium Inc. for the work outlined in the initial approval report IPSES23-015 be increased by $290,000 plus HST of $37,000 to provide ongoing groundwater and surface water monitoring and reporting for a five-year period concluding December 31, 2029.
• That a budget of $200,000 plus HST of $26,000 be approved to identify and implement a continuous oil sheen detection system at the confluence of Jackson Creek and the Jackson Creek bypass sewer for real time monitoring and alarming of petroleum products that may enter the water course.

On August 22, 2022, an oily sheen on Little Lake was reported to City Staff and the MECP. The source of the discharge was determined to be historical contamination predominantly from the City Bus Garage on the north side of Townsend Street, after which remedial measures and monitoring stations were installed and mitigate any discharges.

Work has been completed to contain and clean up contamination released to the culvert, control the contamination and prevent further releases. There is a requirement for ongoing monitoring, evaluation and reporting to the MECP until such time that they are satisfied with the stability and protection of the area.

There is a need to continue with routine inspections of the site, surface and ground water sampling, monitoring and evaluation of the continued effectiveness of remedial actions and reporting of the MECP.

The event at the Jackson Creek outlet to Little Lake in spring 2025 was found to be unrelated to the 2022 incident. On June 2, 2025, Hydro One stated that on May 29, 2025, it discovered a mineral spill at its Aylmer Distribution Station in Peterborough that was the result of damage from metal theft which caused mineral oil to leak from equipment. Some of the released mineral oil entered Little Lake through the sewer system, Hydro One stated.

Community Safety and Well-being Plan renewal

Council endorsed a plan for proceeding with the renewal of the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, as required by the Province of Ontario.

The Community Safety and Well-being Plan adopted in July 2022 is due for renewal in July 2026 as required under Provincial legislation.

The renewal would be done in collaboration with Peterborough County. Discussions with local townships to join the process are currently underway.

A modest approach to renewing the Plan is being recommended as the priorities in the current Plan are still relevant and there are no new resources expected to be available to assist with implementing the Plan.

Report CSD22-008 Community Safety and Well-being Plan was approved July 25, 2022, which adopted the City’s first Community Safety and Well-being Plan (the Plan). Peterborough County adopted the Plan on August 3, 2022, with the Townships of Douro-Dummer, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Selwyn, and Trent Lakes adopting the Plan in July and August 2022. The Townships of Cavan Monaghan, Otonabee-South Monaghan, and Asphodel-Norwood adopted their own Plan. The Plan therefore needs to be renewed for July 2026 to comply with Provincial Legislation.

The current Plan contains 62 Strategies across the following five Priority Areas:

• Housing & Homelessness
• Poverty & Income Security
• Healthcare & Mental Health
• Substance Use & Addictions
• Active Transportation & Connectivity

Loan for affordable housing property

Council endorsed providing an unsecured capital loan of up to $1 million to Thrive Housing and Support to repair critical affordable housing infrastructure, including aging sewer lines and failing retaining walls, at its Towerhill Village affordable housing property.

Staff would be directed to proceed with the making of an unsecured loan of up to $1 million in repayable funding for Thrive Housing and Support (“Thrive”), with a repayment plan following the end of the current mortgage on January 1, 2028, subject to a satisfactory pro forma review.

Thrive is Peterborough’s second-largest social housing provider, following Peterborough Housing Corporation. The Towerhill Village site includes 66 RentGeared-to-Income (RGI) units and 5 market rent units under an operating agreement with the City.

Engineering reports have identified urgent and worsening infrastructure risks at the site, including aging sewer lines and failing retaining walls. Total estimated costs are now $1.82 million.

The City of Peterborough as the service manager supported the completion of Building Condition Assessments (BCA) for all housing providers, including Thrive, in 2021. The BCA listed the sanitation pipe project as low risk capital repair with an expected completion date beyond the next BCA planned for 2026. In 2024 while undergoing inspection of the building foundation and parking lot paving repair, there was significant deterioration in the underground sewer infrastructure identified by the engineers. A subsequent review in 2025 of a second section revealed failing retaining walls and broader systemic issues.

As a provider governed by the Housing Services Act, Thrive cannot increase rents or grow revenue to support major capital repairs. Fully depleting its reserves at Towerhill would jeopardize future repairs at this and other aging sites in its portfolio.

The site’s long-term land lease from the Province prevents it from being used as collateral. While the City and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) continue discussions regarding land transfer, resolution is not expected in the near term.

Towerhill Village, is located at 77 Towerhill Rd. and is owned by His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario as Represented by the Minister of Government Services. Thrive is the successor Corporation who was granted a long-term Lease for the property for a term of 65 years expiring in 2056.

Community Wellbeing Fund

Council endorsed deferring recommendations on a new framework that transitions the Community Project Grants, Community Investment Grants and Arts Investment Fund programs into a Community Wellbeing Fund.

Council endorsed that the Community Wellbeing Fund report be deferred until Municipal Cultural Plan is adopted by Council, a clear transition strategy for arts organizations currently receiving Community Investment Grants is presented, the Professional Arts Organization Grants program is in place with a committed timeline and budget reflecting sector needs, and the guidelines and program details used for the 2025 program be used in the meantime.

Broad changes to the Community Grants Program were initiated and approved through Report CSAC23-008 in October 2023. The current recommendations to Council includes changes to the Community Grants Program as it relates to Project Grants, Investment Grants, and the Arts Fund as they transition to be within a Community Wellbeing Fund.

The new Professional Arts Organization Grant is recommended to be postponed until 2027 to align with a new Municipal Cultural Plan, and will incorporate changes in Cultural Services, Tourism, and Economic Development.

At the direction of Council, the Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee (ACAC) was formally consulted twice with an additional informal meeting with staff to discuss this Report. ACAC does not support the minor changes being made.

After further research and evaluation of the various funding streams, it is being recommended that City grants be consolidated in a Community Wellbeing Fund (CWF). The CWF would include: Community Project Grants, Community Development Grants (previously Community Investment Grants), and Arts Investment Grants. In the 2025 Budget, there is $20,965 for Community Project Grants, $204,070 for Community Development Grants, and $25,000 for Arts Investment Grants. The funding would not change for 2026.

The goal of consolidating the grants is to improve transparency, streamline budgeting, and facilitate better reporting on grant funds being provided to various sectors and organizations in the community.

The purpose of the CWF remains unchanged. It provides financial assistance to non-for-profit, community based organizations and charities that provide direct programs, services, or activities that enhance the quality of life for Peterborough residents. This financial assistance builds capacity and resiliency across a variety of sectors including: social services and health, arts, culture, heritage, recreation, and the environment.