City Council meeting overview package for February 17, 2026

Peterborough, ON - City Council will consider the following items during a General Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026:

• Public Meeting under the Planning Act - Amending the Official Plan to create a site-specific policy related to Draft Plan of Subdivision Files 15T-05503 and 15T-10504 at 4571 Guthrie Dr., and 2006 and 2011 McNamara Rd. in the Coldsprings Special Study Area;
• Public Meeting under the Planning Act - Amending the Zoning By-law for 260 Milroy Drive to establish a commercial zoning district that would permit a range of commercial and residential land uses more aligned with the property’s Major Mixed-Use Corridor Official Plan Designation;
• An annual by-law to establish a $15 million borrowing limit to finance current expenditures during the year, if required;
• Transferring funding from a recent construction project that was completed under budget to help fund the Robinson Street infrastructure project, which could start construction this year if funded;
• A report for information on the Armour Road and Parkhill Road intersection review and planned short-term improvements to the intersection;
• Receiving Notices of Objection to Council's intention to designate 107 Park St. N., a General Electric property, under the Ontario Heritage Act and proceeding with the heritage designation of the property, excluding Buildings 24A and 28;
• Pre-committing $375,000 annually in the City's 2027 and 2028 Capital Budget for the Coldsprings Growth Area - Planning Studies;
• Receiving for information a request from Fairhaven Long Term Care for approval to apply to the Ministry of Long-Term Care for additional beds, and requesting a report with additional information including financial implications and associated options be presented to Council for its consideration;
• An information report on planning for the 2026 Municipal Election;
• Terms of Reference for the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo Advisory Committee; and
• Receiving for information a report on the 107 Park St. N. building demolition site considerations related to health and safety.

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

Items endorsed by City Council's General Committee will proceed to the regular Council meeting on February 23 to be considered for approval.

To speak as a registered delegation at a Council meeting or during a Public Meeting under the Planning Act, 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 will a closed session meeting starting at 5 p.m. to consider four items as permitted under the Municipal Act, 2001, including:

• 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 - Application
• Section 239(2)(f) - Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose and 239(2)(e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals - Litigation
• Section 239(2)(h) Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them - Land Matter
• Section 239(2)(a) the security of the property of the municipality or local board and (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose - City Property

Planning applications: Official Plan amendment

Council will consider amending the Official Plan to create a site-specific policy related to Draft Plan of Subdivision Files 15T-05503 and 15T-10504 at 4571 Guthrie Dr., and 2006 and 2011 McNamara Rd. in the Coldsprings Special Study Area.

The three properties that make up the subject lands are in the southern area of the City known as Coldsprings, the majority of which are on lands annexed into the City from Otonabee South Monaghan in 1998.

Draft Plan of Subdivision Files 15T-05503 and 15T-10504 were initially approved in 2006 and 2010, respectively. Draft Approvals for both Plans of Subdivision were extended multiple times, before expiring in March 2020.

In accordance with Section 51(33.1) of the Planning Act, Council approved the re-instatement of both Draft Plans of Subdivision on February 3, 2025. The Draft Plan Approval of both Plans of Subdivision will lapse on February 3, 2035, if Final Approval is not granted beforehand.

Along with the re-instatement of the draft plans of subdivision, Council directed staff to prepare an Official Plan Amendment to establish appropriate land uses to implement the draft plans of subdivision, for Council’s approval.

The lands within the plans of subdivision are zoned for various uses, depending on the specific property, including lots for up to four units per lot, lots that could accommodate up to eight dwelling units, mid-rise residential buildings, and a multi-suite residence such as a retirement residence.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment is necessary to ensure that the re-instated draft plans of subdivision can be placed with a precinct(s) in the new Community Planning Permit (CPP) By-law that allows for urban development.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment does not relieve the need for a Coldsprings Secondary Plan. While the proposed policy amendment is required now, prior to the CPP By-law coming forward, a Secondary Plan for Coldsprings will still occur, with funding anticipated for 2027. The CPP By-law is underway and expected to be presented to Council for approval later this year.

Zoning By-law amendment: 260 Milroy Dr.

Council will consider amending the Zoning By-law for 260 Milroy Dr. to establish a commercial zoning district that would permit a range of commercial and residential land uses more aligned with the property’s Major Mixed-Use Corridor Official Plan Designation.

The property is on the north side of Milroy Drive, between Chemong Road and Rowberry Boulevard, in the City’s north end. The surrounding land uses include low-density residential development to the north and east, the Portage Place commercial plaza to the south across Milroy Drive, and Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore to the west.

The property is currently zoned to permit a range of industrial uses, which are less aligned with the surrounding land use context and the policy direction for this area.

The proposed Zoning By-law amendment would introduce a defined list of permitted uses that are more compatible with the surrounding residential and commercial uses abutting the property.

The application does not propose any new buildings or structures.

The site contains an existing single-storey building comprising three commercial units, supported by an established parking area with nineteen parking spaces.

Robinson Street infrastructure project

Council will consider transferring funding from a recent construction project that was completed under budget to help fund the Robinson Street infrastructure project, which could start construction this year if funded.

The Brealey Drive reconstruction project from Lansdowne Street West to Sherbrooke Street has been completed under budget with an estimated surplus of almost $2.9 million. From the Brealey Drive project, Council will consider transferring $2.6 million to the Robinson Street infrastructure project.

The Robinson Street Reconstruction project was deferred from 2026 to 2027 as part of the 2026 budget process.

City Staff have advanced the planning and design for the reconstruction of Robinson Street from Mark
Street to Rogers Street and pending budget availability, construction of the project is feasible in 2026.

The Robinson Street infrastructure project includes the installation of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, new pavement structure, storm water management infrastructure and landscaping. The work will also include a pedestrian crossing at the Rotary Trail and Robinson Street.

Armour Road-Parkhill Road intersection

Council will consider a report for information on the Armour Road and Parkhill Road intersection review and planned short-term improvements to the intersection.

In the fall of 2026, staff will implement changes to the existing lane configuration on Parkhill Road to introduce dedicated left-turn and right-turn lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions, and a dedicated right-turn lane for eastbound traffic. Staff will also reconstruct the southwest corner of the intersection to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance and the northeast curbline to extend the westbound left and through-right lane storage.

The existing lane configuration consists of two through lanes in each of the eastbound and westbound directions, a single lane in the southbound direction, and a left-turn lane and a through lane in the northbound direction.

In 2024, staff initiated a traffic operations review on Armour Road from Parkhill Road and Nassau Mills Road. The review focused on current traffic control measures, vehicle speed and volume, road geometry and sightlines, pavement condition, historical collision data, pedestrian activity and crossing opportunities, and the effects of future development. 

Report IPGENG25-017 presented to Council on June 23, 2025, recommended staff review short-term solutions to address the pattern of turning movement collisions and angle collisions at the intersection of Parkhill Road and Armour Road.

The traffic volume travelling through this intersection is typically between 20,000 and 25,000 vehicles per day, which is typical of a signalized intersection of two arterial roads.

There have been 23 turning movement and angle collisions reported between 2017 and 2023, accounting for 46% of all collisions at this intersection. Higher numbers of turning movements and angle collisions typically indicate an issue with the intersection configuration and/or signal timing. In the current lane configuration, eastbound or westbound drivers looking to turn left cross two oncoming lanes. This can create sightline restrictions and make it difficult to determine safe gaps in traffic. 

There is also a pattern of sideswipe and rear-end collisions reported at this intersection. While rear-end collisions are more common at signalized intersections, sideswipe collisions are the result of eastbound and westbound traffic changing lanes close to the intersection to avoid queues of left or right-turning vehicles. 

Heritage designation: 107 Park St. N.

Council will consider receiving Notices of Objection to Council's intention to designate 107 Park St. N., a General Electric property, under the Ontario Heritage Act and proceeding with the heritage designation of the property, excluding Buildings 24A and 28.

Council passed a motion on November 4, 2025 to designate the property at 107 Park Street North – Canadian General Electric under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The owner (GEPR Energy Canada Inc. operating as GE Vernova, “GEV”) and a tenant (BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc., “BWXT”) of 107 Park Street North filed notices of objection to the designation of that property on November 28, 2025 and December 5, 2025 respectively.

City Staff recommend Council proceed with the designation despite the notices of objection.

The draft Heritage Designation By-law has been prepared in consultation with and with the concurrence of legal counsel for GEV and BWXT.

In their letter, GEV objected to the designation, citing concerns over the limitations that designation would place on the planned demolition of buildings on the property not explicitly mentioned in the prepared Heritage Impact Assessment as having cultural heritage value or significance. The objection further cited perceived hinderance to both ongoing use and any modest expansions which may occur on the property in future.

BWXT, who leases a portion of the property from the owner, has also objected, citing the hinderance the heritage permit process could place on future development and alteration on the site.

2026 Municipal Election

Council will consider an information report on planning for the 2026 Municipal Election.

The 2026 Municipal Election will be held Monday October 26, 2026. Planning and preparations for the 2026 election continue.

Candidates can submit their nomination papers to run for a position on city council or as a school board trustee starting May 1, 2026.

Voters will be able to vote using the internet or by paper ballot at a walk-in voting location. Accessible voting equipment will be available to assist voters, if needed.

Health and safety considerations: 107 Park St. N. demolition

Council will consider receiving for information a report on the 107 Park St. N. building demolition site considerations related to health and safety

At its meeting of October 14, 2025, Council directed Staff to come back to Council with an outline for a Health and Safety Plan for the GE Vernova Site and its broader impacts. The Report provides an overview of the agencies and authorities involved in community and environmental protection, and the delineation of responsibilities between them.

As the City does not have the authority to require a Health and Safety Approach (HASA), the framework is one proposed approach for GE Verona (GE) at the 107 Park Street North site to consider and to incorporate into its own building demolition processes; and is intended to guide how community health, environmental protection and transparent communication can be coordinated between GE, the City, and all relevant Provincial, and Public Health agencies.

City Staff  engaged staff from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Lakeland Public Health, and GE to understand current activities and future steps. A Health and Safety Plan (HASP) generic guideline was prepared and reviewed with the agencies as a starting point for guiding community engagement and safety considerations.

Before demolition can proceed, GE will need to make an application and meet submission requirements for a Demolition Permit under the Ontario Building Code (OBC). Once all submission requirements are confirmed, the Chief Building Official has 20 business days to issue the Permit.

Although the City has no legislated authority to require the completion of a HASP before demolition is started, GE is aware of the City’s request to provide a HASP.

Staff understands that Council’s motivation to request for additional information from GE concerning its proposed building demolitions is a desire to limit the potential risk of environmental and adverse impacts related to the fears about historic contamination and contaminants being on the site.