Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 8

143 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 there is development underway throughout Peterborough with housing developments in various phases of construction and planning. “There are developments both in the single- family dwellings and multi residential units, which are really a need in Peterborough,” says Mayor Therrien. “There is a lot happening, which is really exciting. We are working closely with the private sector, as well as with provincial and federal levels of government for different funding opportunities for COVID recovery, infrastructure projects, etc.” For the past five years the city has been working on revisions of their official planning document, finalizing plans to guide the growth of the community over the next few decades. A necessary step for the area. As Therrien explains, “The City of Peterborough is at its built boundary, so an issue that we are trying to deal with is either boundary adjustments, or cross-border servicing, for additional employment lands in the surrounding areas. Our official plan is PETERBOROUGH, ONTAR IO designed to guide all that, and that’s something that all municipalities in Ontario are mandated to have by the provincial government. We are also subject to the Places to Grow Act and other pieces of provincial legislation that are helping us to guide our growth targets and what our development looks like going forward.” With industrial parks throughout the city mostly at capacity, Peterborough is working with Trent University to develop Cleantech Commons – a Research and Innovation Park focused on clean, green and low-/ zero-carbon technology; agro-biotechnology; water technology; and biomaterials, with the goal of attracting companies with these priorities. This innovative project shows the 21st century thinking within the city, and its commitment to sustainability. Home to both Trent University and Fleming College, the city also has other green initiatives such as EV stations throughout the community, and the Lily Lake Solar Farm, which is operated by the Peterborough Utilities Group.