Business eyeing site at airport

The water reservoir used for fire suppression at the Peterborough Airport may be expanded soon to nearly double its capacity, all to accommodate a large new development at the airport.

A new city staff report states that the reservoir needs a capacity of 1 million litres of water – up from the current capacity of 530,000 litres – to meet the needs of the proposed new development.

It’s necessary to have this greater capacity by next summer, states the report.

“City staff and a private developer have been in discussion and are planning for a large development at the airport, expected to be operational by July 2019,” it states.

The report doesn’t mention what type of development is planned, or the name of the private developer.

On Monday at City Hall, councillors will consider a staff recommendation to hire Torontobased engineering firm WSP to design the project, put it to tender and carry out the contract administration.

There was no competitive bid process; the report explains that’s because WSP has been the airport engineering firm of record since 2010.

The firm has been working on environmental assessments to increase both the sewer and water servicing capacity at the airport since 2016, states the report, and this additional contract would build on that previous work.

The design, tender and contract administration for the project would cost about $680,000, states the staff report (including taxes and a contingency of $80,000).

The city has $2.5 million saved to do this type of work at the airport.

Also on councillors’ general committee agenda for Monday:

New Traffic Signals:

There may be new traffic lights at the intersection of Fairbairn St. and Highland Rd. by the end of October.

The signalization was planned, but not this soon.

A new city staff report recommends installing the lights this fall, ahead of the development of the planned Lily Lake subdivision.

The Lily Lake subdivision is going to be built on 280 acres of farmland south of Lily Lake Rd between Fairbairn St. and Ackison Rd.

The plan is for 1,744 homes, including 861 houses, 441 townhouses and 442 apartments. City council gave final approval to the subdivision plan last year.

City staff recommends installing the traffic lights this fall at a cost of $140,000 (with the understanding that the developers of the subdivision will reimburse the city later).

Compliance Audit Committee:

If any candidate is accused of overspending on his election campaign in the municipal election in October, a new committee in Peterborough will consider ordering an audit – and that new committee is expected to include a former mayor.

Sylvia Sutherland is being recommended by city staff to sit on the committee.

So is retired city CAO Brian Horton, retired city clerk Steven Brickell, Mauro DiCarlo, Bob Fisher and Dave McFadden.

The committee’s role will be to evaluate any complaints from voters about potential breach of provincial Municipal Election Act rules related to campaign finances.

If the committee deems a concern is well-founded, it can order an audit. Cities across Ontario are now required to have these committees under the updated Municipal Election Act.