City Council overview package for June 29, 2026

• Replacing the City's Comprehensive Zoning By-law, which was established in 1972, that specifies land use for properties with a new city-wide Community Planning Permit By-law that provides modern development standards and streamlines the development approvals process;
• Implementing a new structure for the stormwater user fee that will be charged based on housing type and size, with non-residential properties paying based on their individual measured impervious area;
• Purchasing a new Articulating Aerial Fire Pumper Vehicle for Peterborough Fire Services at a cost of $4,084,000 plus tax;
• Creating a new Affordable Rental Housing property tax subclass for multi-residential and new multi-residential classes for the 2027 taxation year;
• Designating eight affordable housing units at 221 Rink St. as a Municipal Capital Facility, enabling a 10-year municipal property tax exemption to support the long-term operating sustainability of the affordable housing development, with an amendment added by Council that the agreement authorized requires the proponent to support occupancy for identified priority populations;
• Providing $574,600 from the City's Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative 2026-27 funding to support the purchase of 170 Dublin St., which will be used as four affordable, congregate housing units for individuals exiting homelessness;
• The December 31, 2025 Quarterly Financial Update Report and associated recommendations;
• Receiving the 2027 preliminary Budget Information Report for information;
• Approving the Asset Management Levels of Service Policy;
• Advising Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada that Rogers Communications' proposal for a telecommunications structure at 95 Marina Blvd. has been circulated in accordance with the City's policy and procedure;
• A recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate the property at 270-280 Perry St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• Authorizing the transfer of ownership of 953 Clonsilla Ave., 808 Sherbrooke St., 323-325 Sherbrooke St., and 681 Monaghan Rd. from the Corporation of the City of Peterborough to Peterborough Housing Municipal Services Corporation, which is a wholly owned corporation of the City of Peterborough;
• A Notice of Motion related to insurance concerns associated with designation of properties under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner of Community Services regarding Memorandum of Understanding;
• Report of Closed Session - That closed session report of the City Solicitor respecting Fire Safety Commission Updates be received for information;
• Report of Closed Session - That Council pass a bylaw approving the expropriation of parts of and interests in land known as 2317 Television Rd. and authorize all steps required, and that Council authorize staff to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report regarding Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario litigation;
• Report of Closed Session - That a report of closed session from the Director, People and Culture, on hate crimes training be received for information; and
• Report of Closed Session - That, respecting a proposed land acquisition, staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services.

Community Planning Permit System

Council approved replacing the City's Comprehensive Zoning By-law that specifies land use for properties with a new city-wide Community Planning Permit By-law.

The City-wide CPP replaces the City's 1972 comprehensive zoning by-law with modern development standards and streamline the development approvals process.

The Planning Act mandates that the City update all zoning by-laws to align with and implement the April 2023 Official Plan within three years. To meet this statutory obligation, the City is transitioning from its legacy Comprehensive Zoning By-law to a modern, city-wide Community Planning Permit (CPP) System. 

In March 2025, Council directed staff to establish the CPP Bylaw as the primary tool to implement the Official Plan. Authorized under the Planning Act, this framework provides greater land-use flexibility and significantly streamlines development approvals.

Following extensive community consultation, the City released the final draft CPP By-law to Connect Peterborough on June 5, 2026. This version integrates revisions that address community feedback received before, during and after the March 23, 2026 Statutory Public Meeting.

Documents associated with the Council report include:

• Community Planning Permit System by-law
• A by-law to establish reserve funds
• Pre-application consultation by-law
• User fees bylaw
• Summary of What We Heard - Comment-and-Response Matrix

Through its consideration of the report, Council made several amendments to the recommendations, adding the following directions:

• That Council direct staff to provide an information report to Council, outlining lessons learned, and any recommended implementation changes to the By-law, in part, based on the evaluation of Natural Heritage Features verified by Environmental Impact Studies, after one year of the CPP By-law coming into effect;
• That Council direct staff to prepare a supplementary voluntary green development standards document and checklist, to be shared and strongly encouraged at the pre-consultation stage for Community Planning Permit Applications, and utilized in conjunction with the above-noted Community Improvement Plan, in order to incentivize best practices;
• That staff expedite the preparation of a Community Improvement Plan that supports the objectives of the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 by incentivizing Green Development Standards with best efforts to establish by Q2 in 2027;
• That staff direct to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by Q2 2027 to ensure that field-verified natural heritage features, including those readily identified and evaluated by a qualified professional, and peer reviewed as deemed appropriate are documented, mapped and integrated into the CPP By-law's Environmental Protection precinct through periodic city-initiated amendments;
• expedite a field verification, mapping, monitoring and designation process for important natural areas including woodlands and wetlands and report back to Council by the first quarter of 2027; and
• That staff be directed to provide bi-annual public reports during the first year of the implementation of the CPPS, including a summary of all Class 2 and Class 3 applications received and approved, variations granted, building heights approved, Facilities, Services and Matters secured, cash in lieu contributions collected, and any issues identified through implementation.

Stormwater user fee structure

Council approved implementing a new structure for the stormwater user fee that will be charged based on housing type and size, with non-residential properties paying based on their individual measured impervious area.

Single detached homeowners, which represent approximately 80% of all property types in the City, are expected to pay less under the recommended user fee model than under the existing interim fee.

The total cost of stormwater management to Peterborough taxpayers is not changing. The stormwater program is already funded through a combination of the stormwater utility fee, sewer surcharge, capital levy, and general tax levy, costs ratepayers are already paying. What is changing is how that cost is calculated on the utility bill, transitioning from a formula based on assessed property value to a formula based on housing type and size for residential properties and measured impervious area for non-residential properties.

Staff will report back to Council with the necessary implementing by-law and provide a report during the 2027 Budget Review with options for additional consolidation of stormwater funding into the dedicated Stormwater Utility.

In January 2025, Council approved the transition from funding stormwater management through the general tax levy to a dedicated stormwater user fee, which came into effect April 1, 2025. The interim fee is based on assessed property value and does not accurately reflect the varying levels of runoff generated by different properties.

The City undertook a comprehensive review of the stormwater funding model to consider potential options. The recommended model provides the strongest connection between a property's runoff contribution and the fee it pays.

In 2025, total stormwater-related funding was approximately $9.3 million, increasing to approximately $10.4 million in 2026.

Affordable Rental Housing property tax subclass

Council approved creating a new Affordable Rental Housing property tax subclass for multi-residential and new multi-residential classes for the 2027 taxation year.

In May 2025, the Province introduced O. Reg. 73/25, which amended O.Reg 282/98 to create Affordable Rental Housing Subclasses for multi-residential and new multi-residential properties. This regulation requires municipalities to adopt a By-Law by September 30, 2026, if the municipality wishes to make use of the new subclasses for the 2027 taxation year.

The financial impact can only be determined after Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) classifies the eligible properties. Adopting the subclass will present a clearer picture of all affordable properties as defined by MPAC.

Even if the subclass is adopted, the City is not required to provide a tax reduction, as Council has the authority to set a reduction between 0 and 35 percent in the 2028 tax billing by-law. Any reduction provided to this tax class will affect all other property classes, with the residential property class being the most significantly impacted.

Supporting affordable housing

Council approved providing $574,600 from the City's Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative 2026-27 funding to support the purchase of 170 Dublin St., which will be used as four affordable, congregate housing units for individuals exiting homelessness.

Approved projects under Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative must maintain affordability at or below 80 percent of Average Market Rent (AMR) for 20 years. One City Peterborough is a registered charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals who have experienced homelessness toward full community inclusion.

Quarterly Financial Update Report

Council approved the December 31, 2025 Quarterly Financial Update Report and associated recommendations.

The City completed the fiscal 2025 year with a surplus of $110,144 after considering the recommended reserve transfers.

Some highlights from the Quarterly Financial Report:

• Investment Income – $3.3 million over budget - the City earned more investment income in 2025 than budgeted in the Legacy Fund primarily due to equity fund returns.
• Tax-supported Debt Servicing Charges - $5.7 million under budget – due to timing differences between when the funds are provided through the budget process and when the debt principal and interest payments commence for capital projects
• Public Works - $2 million over budget – due to higher than budgeted costs for winter control activities as a result of the exceptional winter season the Peterborough Region was subjected to in the first and fourth quarters of 2025.
• Transit - $1.5 million over budget – due to higher than budgeted personnel costs as well as fleet maintenance expenditures.
• Recreation and Parks - $2.7 million over budget – Revenue for facility rentals and programs at various facilities did not meet expectations and was impacted by maintenance that reduced the availability of floor/ice time. Seasonal parks operations exceeded budget along with electricity and preventative maintenance costs.

Documents associated with the Quarterly Report

• Appendix A - Summary of Net Operating Revenue and Expenditures, Departmental Operating Expenses, Capital Works in Progress by Function
• Appendix B - Supplemental Information
• Appendix C - Reserve Schedule May 2026
• Appendix D - Letter regarding Peterborough Police Board Credit Adjustment Funds
• Appendix E - User fee schedule, Water Services

2027 Budget information

Council approved receiving for information the 2027 preliminary Budget Information Report. The report provides initial, preliminary information as work has started to assemble the 2027 Budget estimates.

The Draft 2027 Budget is expected to be presented to Council at a General Committee meeting on November 30, 2026.

The Draft 2027 Budget will reflect financial requirements to maintain existing service levels, including inflationary impacts. It may also reflect recommendations from the Effectiveness and Efficiency Review that is currently underway.

There is a lot of uncertainty at this point in time in attempting to estimate an All-Inclusive rate increase. Based on a number of early assumptions, the estimated All-Inclusive rate increase is shown as 6.62%, albeit is subject to change.

Some current, preliminary estimates on 2027 incremental adjustments to the base budget include:

• A $3 million increase to the base budget to correct the base budget issue from 2026 that results from Council using $3 million from the Legacy Fund reserve as a one-time measure to reduce the 2026 tax increase.
• $2,432,311 for capital financing.
• $2,288,922 related to personnel costs, including negotiated increases and other personnel-related expenses. Contracts for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1320 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 636 are currently under negotiations. All of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Locals (Local 126, Local 504, and Local 1833) have agreements expiring at the end of 2026.
• $2 million related to general inflationary costs. In an effort to drive efficiencies, and relieve pressure on the taxpayer, the City has instructed staff to submit Draft Budgets assuming a 1.5% inflationary increase for applicable items, except staffing.
• $1,651,500 for an estimated 4% increase for the Peterborough Police Service.
• $1,563,891 for increased costs for fuel.

Heritage designation: 164 Sherbrooke St.

Council did not approve a recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate the property at 164 Sherbrooke St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

164 Sherbrooke Street is an excellent example of early twentieth century industrial architecture and one of few surviving industrial buildings in downtown Peterborough. Constructed in 1908-09, it was home to the German Card Manufacturing Company, later Turner Brothers Card Manufacturing, a cardboard and mat board factory operated by brothers Marshall and Leslie Turner. It retains a number of important features characteristic of early twentieth century industrial architecture including the integration of decorative brick work and the large multi-pane windows on the western section of the building. It is an important example of industrial architecture in Peterborough and a contributing property to the historic landscape of Sherbrooke Street.

Heritage designation: 270-280 Perry St.

Council approved a recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate the property at 270-280 Perry St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act

270-280 Perry Street has cultural heritage value as an intact early twentieth century factory complex. An integral aspect of Peterborough’s industrial heritage, the factory is also architecturally distinctive in its own right. Notable elements include the main building’s diagonal northwestern wall, oriented to accommodate the existing rail line, and the boiler room’s stepped gable. The property has historical and associative value through its association with the Lundy Shovel and Tool Company and the Canadian Raybestos Company, as well as individuals such as MP James Stratton, Raybestos executive Robert Abbott, and builder and alderman Robert N. Jones. Contextually, it is important in maintaining and supporting the industrial character of Peterborough’s south end.

Municipal Housing Services Corporation

Council approved authorizing the transfer of ownership of 953 Clonsilla Ave., 808 Sherbrooke St., 323-325 Sherbrooke St., and 681 Monaghan Rd. from the Corporation of the City of Peterborough to Peterborough Housing Municipal Services Corporation (PHMSC), which is a wholly owned corporation of the City of Peterborough.

The Asset Transfer Policy establishes the process for transferring municipal assets to corporations wholly owned by the City of Peterborough in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001. All asset transfers, including real property, funds, equipment, and other municipal resources, require prior Council approval and may include conditions related to asset use, resale restrictions, reversion to the City, or financial compensation.

The PHMSC's purpose is to increase and support affordable housing in the City and County of Peterborough. It does this by building, buying, managing, and maintaining housing, working with partners to develop new homes, securing funding and financing, and providing property management and tenant services.

The transfer of properties from the City to the PHMSC is intended to have a long-term beneficial impact to the City’s financial situation but will not have any significant short-term impact. The PHMSC is intended to operate outside of the City’s budget and is intended to operate on its own without any municipal subsidy once fully operational.

The overall intent is to improve the City’s debt capacity and flexibility by removing debt laden housing projects from the City’s debt forecast. The arrangement may generate capital receipts, enable alternative borrowing, and create opportunities for commercial income through dividends or interest, and will allow for greater opportunities for housing development.

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