Peterborough and the Greater Golden Horseshoe:

Cities within the Greater Golden Horseshoe are growing rapidly. In fact, these cities are the fast growing cities in the country located between Windsor (to the west) and Quebec City (to the east). Most of their growth is occurring in their urban growth centres (UGC) which are areas located within the downtown region. Peterborough's UGC is located within the horseshoe though is statistically one of the smallest. Its population grew about 5 percent from 2001 to 2006. 5 percent in five years is not that significant and it is no surprise that it is the most spatially isolated UGC in the horseshoe.

Peterborough relies less on economic synergies with neighbouring UGCs to achieve its growth. Toronto, Hamilton and Guelph for example, all rely on each other through economies of agglomeration as services, manufacturing and production are all interconnected. Being spatially isolated is somewhat problematic. Unemployment is hovering around 8 percent in the city, and if population density and growth do not rise then companies/corporations will have less of an inclination to be here.

Analyzing Peterborough from a geographical density lens would explain its uniqueness from other UGCs. Existing density of Peterborough’s UGC has been estimated at 100 residents/jobs per hectare- nothing significant but keep in mind the city's total population is 75,000. The ostensible goal is to reach 150 residents/jobs per hectare by 2031.

Achieving 150 residents/jobs per hectare by 2031 would require an additional 4,800 jobs and residents. But city planners have indicated that this growth will have to occur in the built area boundary and not in the outskirts of the city otherwise known as designated Greenfield areas. The idea is to concentrate population growth in areas where employment opportunities are high.

Is density really going to increase in Peterborough? Not sure. Forecasted growth is 14,000 people and jobs between 2006 and 2031. For one, housing will have to be revitalized and incorporate smart growth in the process. The urban growth centre has an abundance of single-detached houses which reflects the strong market demand for lower density housing in the city. If the city wants to remain competitive with other UGCs in the horseshoe, it will require more multi-unit residential developments like row housing, multi-storey buildings and better water infrastructure.

Among many of the benefits cities obtain from higher density- transit and water efficiency are the most notable. Transportation always becomes more sophisticated and efficient when density allows it to. Density usually correlates with higher transit ridership- this in turn means that the city would obtain more funding from the government to ameliorate its transit services.

On the water front, higher density housing helps lower the costs of piping installation for new residential housing units. It also reduces the maintenance costs for actually pumping the water through it. If low density units (single detached housing) continue to be built, then the water department will lose money because it costs more to deliver water to these units.

Key message: The city is growing albeit very slowly. If the city focuses on density development i.e. concentrating growth in its downtown area, then it can obtain more economic, environmental and social benefits. Being spatially isolated can be economically troublesome, but as the city becomes more dense, employment should concomitantly rise and urban amenities will improve as well.