Duguay to stay out of apartment debate

Councillor was developer’s original planner for 95-unit building proposed for George Street

Coun. Kevin Duguay, a professional planner, said he was the original planner hired two years ago by a developer proposing an apartment building on George Street — but he’s not involved with the project anymore, not since before the municipal election in fall when he became a city councillor.

Still, he says he will declare a conflict of interest and not participate in the debate or vote when a rezoning application comes before councillors at a meeting on April 3. Duguay says he’ll remain in council chambers, but won’t debate or vote.

“Yes, I was involved — I’ll make that declaration,” Duguay said in an interview.

The proposal is for a six-storey, 95-unit apartment building to replace the former Kaye Funeral Home (later Vinnies second-hand store) at 539 George St. N.

The developer is Simon Zhang, the founder and CEO of Torontobased ZZY Property Group. Since 2019 he’s owned 539 George St. N., which is on the west side of George (at McDonnel Street).

Zhang would like to demolish the building, then start construction this summer, pending a rezoning and site plan approval from councillors.

Duguay is a professional planner who worked for the city before starting his own business.

He said this week that before the municipal election in October, a couple of planners who worked for him (one of whom is a relative) ceased to be his employees. They have since started their own business, One Community Planning.

Laura Stone, planner and director of One Community Planning, explained this week that she and her business partner purchased Duguay’s client book for all ongoing projects within the city of Peterborough.

Duguay said he will declare an interest on April 3, both because he’d been involved in the original planning of the project in 2021 and because of his family tie with One Community Planning.

Zhang, who is in his 20s, told The Examiner in an email this week that this is an early-career project for him after graduating from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management.

“As an Asian-Canadian, I am deeply committed to making a positive social impact. This project not only marks the beginning of my journey since graduating from U of T Rotman, but it also stands as a cornerstone in our broader longterm portfolio,” he said in his email.

“My goal is to deliver the highest quality product possible while sending a powerful message to the community. I want to convey that we are living in a world where everyone, regardless of their background or stage in life, deserves access to comfortable, affordable and well-designed housing.”