PRIORITIZE URGENT REPAIR BACKLOG, AFFORDABLE & MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY URBAN DESIGN
Downtown revitalization is paramount as our city centre is Peterborough’s commercial nucleus and has for generations been a draw for merchants, markets, tourists and consumers of culture and services. Not only does our natural heritage, parks, water and trail systems in our core compel visitors, our businesses, cradled by prolific architectural heritage, present a bold, beautiful, memorable landscape and experience for all. My commitment to preserving, scaffolding and improving downtown roads, services and amenities is wholehearted, urgent and determined.
A commercially-flanked residential core, provides access and connectedness for all. The City has adopted urban design guidelines for the Central Area which are a series of design statements and images that explain desired design elements and qualities that shape development and the public realm. Öur downtown is due for the kind of “refresh” that other sister towns and cities in the area have long ago undertaken and currently sparkle as a result. The Sawmill Residence at 191 Rink St, a 6-storey 64-unit rental building funded through the rental construction financing initiative of CMHC is a pleasing and sustainable example of the affordable rental housing which the downtown needs.
Our 2025 Asset Management Plan highlights a $132 million annual shortfall to eliminate the backlog. Our road network is ranked in “fair” condition, with $1.4 billion in replacement costs for roads, bridges and related assets. These realities prompt a sober second thought for council and taxpayers as proposed luxury capital projects present themselves when much-needed maintenance and scaffolding of our current infrastructure requires attention. The Central Area (Bethune Street) Flood Reduction Project was a top priority after the 2004 flood and was completed in 2023. It creates storm and sanitary safeguards and enhanced stormwater diversion to protect the downtown from future significant flood events. The streetscape includes a corridor ideal for cyclists and pedestrians.
681 Monaghan Rd, opened in the spring of 2025, was designed to be a rapid response to the housing crisis, designed for energy efficiency and long-term affordability. It serves a target population of individuals at risk of homelessness, and to tenants who may require accessibility accommodations. It features 37 one-bedroom, 11 two-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom units. It’s essential that we accelerate projects such as these, downtown and in our central area, especially the City’s and Peterborough Housing Corporation’s affordable housing projects put on hold for funding reasons.
Within my planning (IPG) portfolio jurisdiction this term, we have facilitated issuing permits for up to four residential units “as-of-right” on a single lot to encourage missing middle housing, increase density with appropriate scale and servicing and eliminate the need for complex rezoning. Our Missing Middle Community Improvement Plan allows duplexes, triplexes and four plexes to increase housing choice. Detached Additional residential units (ARUs) must be at least 1.2 m from the principal dwelling and 0.6 m from property lines, with a max height of 4.3 m.