City Council overview package for September 8, 2026

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 held a closed session General Committee meeting to consider three 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 - Proposed Land Acquisition
• Section 239(2)(f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose - OLT
• 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 - Lease

Ashburnham Drive and McFarlane Street Bridge Update

In May 2026 Council deferred approval of the Ashburnham Drive Realignment and McFarlane Street Bridge Replacement environmental assessment study, directing staff and the project consultant to meet with the owners of 2560 Trent View Rd. to discuss potential impacts the project would have on the property.

Staff and the consultant met with the property owners on July 15, 2026. The owners supported the need for growth-related transportation improvements and replacement of the bridge but expressed a preference for Alternative D alignment for the McFarlane Street Bridge.  

Further review confirmed that Alternative D bridge alignment would reduce impacts in the vicinity of 2560 Trent View Road but would shift greater impacts to other properties, including the acquisition of at least two additional residential properties on Old Norwood Road and additional grading impacts for residences 
along Old Norwood Road and Naish Drive and Ashburnham Memorial Park.

Staff continue to recommend the ‘Preferred Design’ as identified in the Municipal Class EA Study and presented at the May 2026 General Committee.

Planning Amendment - 689 Towerhill Rd. 

Council will consider an amendment to the Draft Plan Subdivision Approval at 689 Towerhill Rd. 

City Council approved an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision to facilitate the creation of a development block to contain up to six apartment buildings with up to 612 residential units, a stormwater management block, and two public streets on December 8, 2025. 

The conditions of the Draft Plan Subdivision Approval require the proponent to construct a new north-south collector road from the site to Deline Street as part of the first phase of development and to connect that new road to Hillview Drive as part of phase two. 

After undertaking some initial detailed design work, the proponent has suggested that approved road phasing plan is not feasible and instead would like to connect the site to Hillview Drive during the first phase of development and construct the road to Deline Street in phase two. 

It is the opinion of City staff that the proposed amendment can be accommodated with existing road infrastructure while also maintaining the City's goal of creating a connected active transportation network.

Documents: 

• Map of Area
• Draft Plan of Subdivision
• Draft Construction Plan
• Conditions of Draft Plan Subdivision Approval

2027 Council Meeting Schedule

Council will consider the 2027 Council meeting schedule. 

This includes a recommendation that General Committee meetings begin at 5 p.m., and that Council meetings take place one week after General Committee meetings on a reoccurring basis. 

It is anticipated that the 2027 Draft Budget will be presented to General Committee on Monday, November 30, 2026.

Heritage Designation: 99 Roper Dr. 

The Erica and Harry Cherney House at 99 Roper Dr. reflects the work of locally and nationally renowned architect, Eberhard Zeidler. Contextually, the house supports the suburban character of the Westmount neighbourhood, seamlessly blending mid-century modern into a split-level home and adding the suburban element of a large garage which is the focal point of the front façade.

Historically, the house is linked to prominent business owner Harry Cherney, who operated a longstanding furniture store and real estate business with his brother Myer Cherney. His wife Erica Cherney became a noted businesswoman and philanthropist, sitting on several boards including the Downtown Business Improvement Association and being the first woman to serve as chair on the Trent University Board of Governors. For her community work, she was recognized for several awards including the Ontario Bicentennial Medal in 1984 and Woman of the Year by the YWCA in 1987. 

Heritage Designation: 483 Park St. N.

483 Park St. N. has cultural heritage value as the former West Ward School, an educational facility constructed to respond to Peterborough’s growing population and extension of its neighbourhoods to the west. Contextually, the former school maintains the residential character of the historic Old West End.

Constructed circa 1878 in the Italianate style, it is an excellent example of late nineteenth-century urban educational architecture in Ontario. The property has direct associations with the history of public education in Peterborough and with carpenter Cole Barrett, who built the school and served as its caretaker until its closure. 

Heritage Designation: 694 Sherbrooke St. - Clonsilla 

Built circa 1837, 694 Sherbrooke St. -‘Clonsilla’ is an excellent local example of a Regency- style villa and one of the oldest extant residential structures in the city. It features key elements of the Regency style, namely its two-storey stone construction, asymmetrical massing, chimneys, and verandah.

The stone house was built for Stafford F. Kirkpatrick, a prominent barrister, judge and army officer. Kirkpatrick acted as chairman of the building committee of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church and was churchwarden between 1836 and 1838. In 1875, the property passed to Robert A. Morrow, a prominent businessman who built the Morrow Building at the corner of Brock and George Streets, and, as a benefactor of the Agricultural Society, leased the land which became Morrow Park. Contextually, the house is a defining landmark of the Clonsilla area of Peterborough’s west end, lending its name, derived from Kirkpatrick’s home in Ireland, to the hill on which it sits and the nearby avenue.

Heritage Designation: 298 Water St. 

298 Water Street, formerly The Peterborough Canoe Company Administration Building, has cultural heritage value as a surviving example of a Victorian manufacturing administration building in Peterborough.

Constructed by 1893, it served as the administration office of the Peterborough Canoe Company Limited from 1893 to 1957. The Peterborough Canoe Company was founded by prominent local businessman James Z. Rogers. Under Rogers’ leadership, the company began fulfilling international orders, including exports to the United Kingdom, helping to establish Peterborough as a prominent centre for canoe manufacturing. Following Rogers’ death, William A. Richardson lead the company through World War II and continued efforts to diversify the business, expanding production to include winter sporting equipment such as skis, as well as motorboats and steamboats. During both World Wars, the company also contributed to the war effort by manufacturing munitions boxes. It serves as a reminder of a period when Peterborough’s manufacturing industries were central to the city’s economic and social development.

Heritage Designation: 813 Water St.

The Benson House, 813 Water St., is an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century Georgian architecture in Peterborough.

Constructed prior to 1851, the house demonstrates the characteristic symmetrical massing, central entrance, and unique two-over-four paned shuttered windows. The house has historic value as the home of two prominent local families. The Benson family was highly influential in the local economy and politics in the mid-nineteenth century through the operation of their mill and dry goods store. Both William and Richard Hall, subsequent owners, were heavily involved in local philanthropy, with William Hall leaving a large endowment in trust to fund the Peterborough Protestant Home, and Richard Hall’s involvement in the 
establishment and operation of the Nicholls Hospital in the 1880s. Contextually, Benson House supports the character of the area framed by Water, George, Argyle and Dennistoun streets by showcasing the influence of Peterborough’s early merchants. It is the only house that has a circular driveway which contributes to its prominence.