Overview

There will be multiple opportunities to provide feedback throughout the project process, including surveys, public meetings, workshops, interviews and working group meetings. Feedback will be documented and will be used to help inform the policies and directions that will be implemented through this exercise.

The next round of community engagement is intended to collect feedback and input on the community vision for growth and will include the following activities:

• Public Engagement: Late January/Early February 2026 (see details below)
• Indigenous Community Outreach and Engagement: Ongoing

Stay tuned for more information on each round of engagement and how you can participate.

Upcoming Community Engagement Sessions

We are back with a series of events to share the Draft CPP By-law! Your feedback on the Draft By-law is critical to help inform the Final By-law that will be presented for Council approval in May 2026. See below for details regarding in-person or virtual session options.

In-Person Public Open Houses

The City is hosting a series of public open houses to present the draft Community Planning Permit (CPP) By-law and gather community feedback. The CPP By-law will replace the City’s Zoning By-law and set rules on what can be built and how land is used.

Residents and other interested parties are invited to drop-in at any time advertised for the public open houses scheduled below to learn more about the draft CPP By-law and provide feedback. The information and materials will be the same at each public open house so attendees are encouraged to select one that suits their preference. No formal presentation will be provided.

1. Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 6pm-9pm at Westdale United Church, 1509 Sherbrooke St
2. Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 3pm-6pm at Queen Alexandra Community Centre (Activity Haven), 180 Barnardo Ave
3. Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 3pm-6pm at McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St
4. Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 6pm-9pm at Healthy Planet Arena Banquet Hall, 911 Monaghan Rd

Registration is not required to attend the in-person public open sessions; however, those interested are encouraged to sign up for the session through Eventbrite(External link) to help us plan the event and communicate updates in case of inclement weather.

Virtual Public Open House

A virtual statutory public open house will also be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 6pm-9pm via Zoom. The virtual public open house will include a presentation providing an overview of the draft CPP By-law and opportunity for questions and answers. The session will be recorded and posted to ConnectPTBO following the session.

Registration is not required to attend the virtual public open house and can be accessed directly via this Zoom link; however, those interested are encouraged to sign up for the session through Eventbrite(External link).

Online Survey

From January 28th to February 13th, community members will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on the Draft CPP By-law via the online survey. Check back here for a link to the survey.

Past Community Engagement Events

The City’s new Official Plan acknowledges the CPPS as a strategic planning tool to facilitate intensification and redevelopment. Key benefits of this tool in Peterborough would include:

• A streamlined development approvals process;
• Increased regulation flexibility and design standards;
• Opportunity to apply a broader scope of development review;
• Opportunity to implement the City’s new Urban Design Guidelines; and
• Support for local objectives such as increased affordable housing supply, meeting density and intensification targets, promoting high quality design and preserving cultural heritage.

The CPPS process is proposed to be administered through a new CPP By-law, in place of the City’s existing and outdated Zoning By-law. In Ontario, municipalities are required to implement the policies of a new or updated Official Plan within three years of a new or updated Official Plan coming into effect. The City-wide CPP By-law will replace the existing Zoning By-law with modernized development regulations and will ensure alignment with the City’s new Official Plan.

Once a CPP By-law is in effect, the City can issue Community Planning Permits to allow development to occur if an application meets the standards set out in the CPP By-law.

In developing a CPPS, Peterborough joins several other forward-thinking municipalities across Ontario to proactively update our approach to regulating development, increase housing supply, and foster sustainable, well-designed communities.