City Council meeting overview package for May 4, 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, May 4, 2026:

• A report on the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the Ashburnham Drive Realignment and McFarlane Street Bridge Replacement;
• A report on options for next steps for the Multi-use Sport and Event Centre project;
• A Municipal Capital Facility agreement with Peterborough City Soccer Club Inc. for its clubhouse facility at Eastgate Memorial Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.;
• Receiving for information the 2025 Investment Report;
• A recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 212-216 London St. as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act; and
• Receiving a Notice of Objection to the intention to designate 227-233 Hunter St. W. under the Ontario Heritage Act and proceeding with the heritage designation of the property.

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 5 p.m. to consider three items as permitted under the Municipal Act, 2001, including:

• Section 239(2)(c) A proposed or pending acquisition or deposition of land by the municipality - Land Acquisition
• Section 239(2)(b) Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees - Civic Awards
• Section 239(2)(k) A position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on by or on behalf of the municipality and (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land - Proposed Land Acquisition

Ashburnham Drive and McFarlane Street Bridge

Council will consider a report on the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the Ashburnham Drive Realignment and McFarlane Street Bridge Replacement.

Council will consider endorsing the recommendations in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) and posting the Environmental Study Report for the 30-day review period and Provincial approval.

The Ashburnham Drive Realignment and McFarlane Street Bridge Replacement Class EA was undertaken to support future development needs within the east portion of the City and the replacement of deficient roads and bridges that do not meet present-day needs and design criteria.

The Ashburnham Drive Realignment and McFarlane Street Bridge Replacement EA was formally initiated with the issuance of a Notice of Study Commencement on September 1, 2022.

The evaluation of the Ashburnham Drive Realignment options informed the identification of a preferred alignment that best balances safety, connectivity, environmental protection, and community impacts. The preferred alignment includes varying modifications to Ashburnham Drive’s alignment connecting with Maniece Avenue, Hunter Street, Old Norwood Road, as well as new connections to existing active transportation facilities located to the north and south of the study area.

The McFarlane Street Bridge evaluation considered transportation performance and constructability, along with potential effects to the Natural Areas and Corridors near the Trent Canal, including vegetation removal and disturbance limits, and the need to manage in-water works where applicable. Across the options, a new bridge configuration capable of accommodating two travel lanes and all-ages-and-abilities active transportation facilities was considered feasible, with final span arrangement, staging, and restoration commitments to be confirmed through detailed design process.

In addition to evaluating alternative road and bridge alignments, the study also considered a range of potential road and bridge cross-section options to address existing transportation deficiencies and improve multi-modal connectivity. These alternatives explored different ways of accommodating pedestrians and cyclists within the available right-of-way and reflected both current conditions and opportunities to enhance safety and comfort for all users.

The recommended design for Ashburnham Drive realigns the roadway east of the Trent–Severn Waterway, with Sidewalks and Boulevard Bicycle Lanes on both sides.

The recommended design for the McFarlane Street Bridge provides a new bridge on an alignment immediately north of the existing structure, together with a Cross-Section that incorporates Sidewalks and On-Road Cycle Lanes on both sides.

Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre

Council will consider a report on options for next steps for the Multi-use Sport and Event Centre (MUSEC) project.

A number of options related to the approval and construction of the MUSEC are provided in the report for Council's consideration. These options range from not proceeding, partial financing approval, and full financing approval. 

Council has previously approved the preferred location of the MUSEC being the existing City bus garage site on Townsend Street.

The Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre (MUSEC) project was initiated in 2018 with two feasibility studies. The previous studies have considered features, expected project timeline, cost-benefit analysis of upgrades to the current Peterborough Memorial Centre versus a new building, a market analysis, and locations.

Council has previously considered the development of a new sports and entertainment complex to replace the Peterborough Memorial Centre and to support economic development, tourism, and community recreation objectives. Preliminary estimates indicate a total project cost in the order of $170 million, inclusive of construction, soft costs, and contingencies.

The current report evaluates options for next steps with information on various considerations, such as:

• Debt capacity
• Ability to finance the City's ongoing capital program
• Long-term financial risk and sustainability
• Municipal tax rate
• Credit rating

Three financing scenarios are analyzed in the report:

• Determining the maximum amount the City can reasonably afford within the City’s current debt capacity and seeking funding partners for the balance
• Financing the full project cost by increasing debt issuance up to the Provincial Annual Repayment Limit
• Funding $100 million through the sale of City assets and debt financing the remaining $70 million

Options presented for Council consideration include:

1. Approve the project moving to a Concept Confirmation and Further Site Development Phase - funding the next phase of design specification, without a commitment to move forward with the full project
2. Approve financing to the maximum of existing debt limit policy and seek partnerships - committing $30 million debt capacity toward the project, and pursuing private sector partnerships to finance the remaining portion of the project
3. Approve financing for 33% of the project and seek remaining funding from other levels of government - committing $57 million towards the project that would required amendments to the City's debt limit, proceeding to the full design phase so that the project can be presented for funding opportunities to other levels of government, pre-committing $8.5 million in the 2027 Budget for the necessary next steps
4. Financing the entire project through a combination of Asset Sales and debt servicing - a report will be provided to Council at a later meeting on the potential sale of City assets that could be used toward the costs of the MUSEC
5. Full approval and financing of the project - financing the entire $170 million project cost with amendments to the City's debt limit and pre-committing $8.5 million in the 2027 Budget for the necessary next steps
6. Do not proceed any further with this project

Municipal Capital Facility agreement

Council will consider a Municipal Capital Facility agreement with Peterborough City Soccer Club Inc. for its clubhouse facility at Eastgate Memorial Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.

Designating the facility as a Municipal Capital Facility will provide relief from property taxation.

Staff are seeking approval from Council to enter into a Municipal Capital Facility (MCF) agreement with the Club that provides acknowledgement that the clubhouse building located at 2150 Ashburnham Drive, within Eastgate Memorial Park, was constructed by Peterborough City Soccer Inc. The MCF agreement will establish key responsibilities of the building for both the club and the City.

2025 Investment Report

Council will consider receiving for information the 2025 Investment Report.

In 2025 the City earned $7.2 million in investment income on General Investments and $4.4 million in investment income on investments held in the Legacy Fund.

Investment income is an important source of revenue and was used as follows:

• $5.9 million is general revenue which helps reduce tax requirements through the Operating Budget
• $1.3 million is directed to various individual reserves in which the funds reside
• $4.40 million is interest earned on the Legacy Fund

During 2025, the average cash and investment balance related to general investments was $172.48 million, with an overall rate of return of 3.5% for 2025.

Council established the Legacy Fund in 2021 with funds from the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. assets. As of December 31, 2025, the City held $71.7 million in the Legacy Fund. The effective overall rate of return on the Legacy Fund for 2025 was 5.35%.

Heritage designation: 212-216 London St.

Council will consider a recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate 212-216 London St. as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act.

212-216 London Street has cultural heritage value as a unique example of an Edwardian row house in Peterborough. Built in the Edwardian Classicism style, the houses display key elements of the style, uniquely applied to a row house, including porches with bowling pin columns; pediments with shingles above the porches; and stained glass transom windows on the main floor. The properties have historical and associative value through associations with prominent businesspeople such as William Earle Kidd, Edgar D. Carson and Ernest H. Bartlett. Contextually, these terraced houses support the residential of streetscape of London Street and the wider residential neighbourhood to the north of the downtown core.

Heritage designation: 227-233 Hunter St. W.

Council will consider receiving a Notice of Objection to the intention to designate 227-233 Hunter St. W. under the Ontario Heritage Act and proceeding with the heritage designation of the property.

Council approved proceeding with the heritage designation in January 2026.

The Albion Hotel at 227-233 Hunter Street West has cultural heritage value as a landmark building on the cusp of the downtown core. It is a rare Second Empire building that still retains its mansard roof, a feature popular in the Victorian era yet with few examples surviving in Peterborough. It is also a unique example of row housing in Peterborough. The property showcases the lives of the working-class in Peterborough in a few of its notable tenants including merchant turn town assessor Cornelius McGrath, grocer Wellington Bradshaw and plumber C. A. Joseph Duranceau. Its location and surroundings make it one of few historical properties on an axis to the downtown core making it a landmark and essential to maintaining and supporting the character of the downtown area.

An objection from the property owner was received on February 27, 2025, however the objection did not set out a detailed reasoning. If Council proceeds with the passage of the designating by-law for 227-233 Hunter Street West, the city informs the owner and publishes a notice of the by-law’s passage. This notice triggers a second 30-day objection period during which any person may appeal the bylaw’s passage to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The OLT has the authority to dismiss the appeal or allow the appeal by either repealing or amending the by-law. The OLT decision is binding on the municipality. Staff recommend Council proceed with the designation.