Work resumes on installation of services for Cleantech Commons

Trails, roads, sewers and water services are being installed to support the creation of Cleantech Commons – an innovation park focusing on green and clean technology through a partnership between Trent University and the City of Peterborough.

Work will resume on providing services for the Cleantech Commons site in September 2019.

Before the work was approved, the City worked with Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and Otonabee Conservation (ORCA) on aspects such as natural heritage, groundwater conditions, tree preservation, stormwater management, animals and other environmental considerations.

The project includes low-impact development techniques for features such as managing stormwater, while the layout ensures setbacks from natural areas.

The installation of services is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.

Internal servicing of the Cleantech Commons property is a milestone in the project that stretches back to 2006 when the idea of a research and innovation park emerged as part of Trent University’s Endowment Lands Plan.

Municipal services were extended to the property in 2017.

Now the services are being connected to future sites within Cleantech Commons.

With this work, the site will really start to take shape, turning the vision of Canada’s premier green technology employment and innovation park into reality.

Cleantech Commons will host a cluster of companies and start-up enterprises in the fields of clean technology, water, environmental services, advanced material sciences, biotechnology, medical and health products, agri-food and agri-business, and information and communications technologies.

What you’re going to see happening at Cleantech Commons

Mid-September – There will be soil testing and further surveying of the site. Testing sites will be located and marked. An excavator will be digging 31 holes for soil testing, which will each be between 3.6 metres and two metres deep. Each of the holes will be filled back up when not being used. Four to six test tubes will be installed among the 31 holes at a time. The soil testing will be taking place along the route where internal roads will be built on the site.

Early October – Work starts with setting up environmental protection features, such as erosion and sediment controls, to prevent sediment from washing off-site and into ditches, streams, watercourses or storm sewers.

This will be followed by on-site clearing, grubbing, earth excavation, grading, removals, granular, asphalt, geo-textiles, site illumination, installation of various sized culverts, stormwater pond construction, sanitary and storm sewer installation, water main, landscaping, and roadside ditching.

Advance “Construction Ahead” and “Truck Entrance” signage will be erected along Pioneer Road in both east and west directions by October 1st, 2019. Road closures are currently not anticipated. Signed detour routes will be provided to direct motorists in the event of a road closure.

Ongoing – Monitoring by Otonabee Region Conservation Authority.

Fall 2020 – Expected completion

Wetland Evaluation Report

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry recently approved the Wetland Evaluation Report completed on behalf of the City of Peterborough.

The site for Cleantech Commons was designed assuming that the wetland next to the planned innovation and employment park would be designated provincially significant under the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System.

With the assumption that the wetland would be designated, the City completed the necessary studies to determine the appropriate buffers and boundaries – and the studies were reviewed by Otonabee Conservation.

Leadership in sustainability

Beyond the setbacks, the City and Trent University are showing leadership in sustainability practices by building sustainable design elements into Cleantech Commons, such as low-impact development standards for stormwater management.

Details on the project are available online at www.peterborough.ca/cleantechcommonsproject.