The events are as follows:

• Downtown @ Dusk – June 19, 2026 (street closure from Bridge St to Victoria St on Front St. Time – 11am to 8am June 20, 2026 and food trucks)
• Caribbean Festival – August 15, 2026 (street closure from Bridge St to Victoria St on Front St. Time – 8am to 8am August 16, 2026 and food trucks)
• Blues Festival – September 12, 2026 (street closure on Bridge Street from Front St to Pinnacle St. Time – 10am to 8am September 13, 2026)
• Enchanted in the District – November 21, 2026 (street closure on Bridge Street from Front St to Pinnacle St. Time – 8am to 8am November 22, 2026 and food trucks)

The street closures would include a of Front Street between the south side of Victoria Avenue and the north side of Bridge Street and Campbell Street from Pinnacle Street.

As part of the recommendation, if the developer does not meet the Community Improvement Plan application deadline of July 11, 2026, staff will reallocate the amount of $618,000.00 from the Community Improvement Plan reserve fund to the Taxation Stabilization Reserve Fund.

The recommendation was approved by council at its meeting on Monday.

According to a report from staff, back on March 31, 2022, the applicant submitted a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) application for 7 Aldersgate Drive that would result in the creation of 84 rental units, of which 50 were affordable units.

On April 15, 2024, an extension request was granted by Belleville council until July 11, 2026, with the city saying that the applicant anticipated potential delays in the construction process.

The construction process is underway on the development, with the developer, Aldersgate Homes, saying they anticipated completion in the spring of 2027.

In a letter to city staff, the developer said an extension to July 2027 would “provide sufficient time to ensure that all program requirements can be fully met and documented.”

Staff say that while the City originally approved $618,000.00 in incentives through its CIP, subsequent legislative changes under Bill 23 introduced mandatory DC exemptions.

Because of these legislative changes, the total municipal financial contribution to the development effectively increased to $1.3 million.

In a recorded vote, council voted in favour of denying the request for a one-year extension as well as reallocating the amount of $618,000 from the Community Improvement Plan reserve fund if the application deadline of July 11, 2026 isn’t met.

The lone no vote came from Councillor Garnet Thompson, saying he could not turn down funding for subsidized housing.

The notice of motion was brought forward by councillor Kelly Henderson at Belleville City Council’s meeting on Monday.

Back in May, the City of Belleville’s Planning Committee received significant public input from local residents about a proposed development called “Hanley Park North”.

Some of the main concerns raised during public input included the environmental protection of the Bell Creek natural heritage system as well as concern about the developer’s environmental study, saying that it used an outdated standard and alleging it failed to prove there will be no negative impact, as required under provincial policy.

Hanley Park North would have featured 103 residential units consisting of 74 single-family dwellings and 29 townhouses along with parks and walkways.

“We would like options to include the idea of a land swap, land trust, as well as any other potential funding models,” Councillor Henderson said introducing the motion on Monday.

“We would appreciate this report, if possible, (be brought back) by the July 27 or August 10 meeting.”

Councillor Barbara Enright-Miller seconded bringing forward the motion.

“Just to add to that, we also have information that we would provide to staff about other municipalities that have encountered such a thing, and the roads they have gone down to do a land trust or swap. So happy to provide that to staff.” Councillor Enright-Miller said.

The motion will be discussed at a future council meeting.

Thirteen building permits were issued in May, compared to 10 in May of 2025.  Of those permits, five were for new homes, up from just one permit for a new home in May 2025. The total value of permits was $4,399,000, an increase over last May’s total of $1,200,700.

While construction is up over last May, the year-to-date construction is down. So far, in 2026, 47 building permits have been issued in Brighton, down from 70 at this time in 2025. Seventeen of this year’s permits are for new homes, down from 34 by this time last year.

The value of construction so far in 2026 is $16,724,100, down from $103,268,700 at this time last year.

Peterborough County OPP charged an individual with stunt driving after stopping them for travelling over double the posted speed limit in Asphodel-Norwood Township.

An officer on patrol on Highway 7 on Saturday evening stopped a driver after clocking a vehicle travelling 166 km/hr in the posted 80 km/hr speed limit.

The driver, a 21-year-old from Toronto, on their way to a friend’s cottage, was charged with drive motor vehicle – perform stunt-excessive speed.

Their licence was suspended for 30 days, vehicle impounded for 14 days, and they will have to appear in court.

OPP responded just before 5 p.m. when shots were reportedly fired in a parking lot at the corner of Bridge Street and Hastings Street.

The suspect involved was observed fleeing the area on a bicycle prior to police arrival.

A short time later, officers were notified that a male victim had attended the local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury consistent with a gunshot wound.

Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 17-year-old male from the Greater Toronto Area on the following charges:

·      Assault with a weapon

·      Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose

·      Discharge a restricted firearm or a prohibited firearm with intent

·      Discharge a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner

·      Unauthorized possession pf a prohibited or restricted firearm

·      Pointing a firearm

·      Mischief – destroys or damages property

·      Fail to comply with sentence

Investigators believe this is an isolated incident with no broader risk to public safety.

The Bancroft Crime Unit is continuing the investigation with assistance from members of the Bancroft Detachment and Forensic Identification Services.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or dashcam footage is asked to contact the Bancroft OPP at 1‑888‑310‑1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑8477 (TIPS) or online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

The survey marks the next step in the city’s ongoing evaluation of its “Park Here” downtown core parking program that currently offers free two-hour on-street parking downtown and unlimited free parking in municipal lots in Quinte West.

Feedback shared by community members through the survey will help city staff assess the current parking program and identify opportunities to evolve the city’s downtown parking experience for residents, businesses and visitors.

“We know that ensuring positive parking experiences in our downtown and throughout the community plays an important role in supporting vibrancy in Quinte West,” says Carrie West, supervisor of By-Law Enforcement. “As the Quinte West community continues to grow, the city appreciates receiving feedback that will help us meet the evolving needs for parking in downtown Trenton, and improve the parking experience for everyone.”

The City of Quinte West provides approximately 425 parking spaces in the downtown Trenton core and surrounding business area, including about 148 on-street spaces and 277 in the five municipally owned and maintained parking lots.

The city’s “Park Here” parking program was introduced in January 2025 to improve the downtown parking experience by providing access to free short-stay, on-street spaces and free in-lot parking options for those who visit local businesses and restaurants.

The survey is open until July 6.

To fill out the survey and learn more, visit quintewest.ca/parking. 

Indecent Act:

On June 5, 2026 at 3:57 p.m., Belleville police responded to the city’s east end regarding a report of a female who was exposing herself to members of the public.

Officers located the female and as a result of the investigation, placed her under arrest. While in custody, the female urinated inside the police vehicle. She was later transported to a local hospital, where she spat at an employee.

As a result, Melissa Maracle, a 52-year-old Belleville woman, was arrested and charged with:

· Mischief under $5,000

· Assault

· Indecent act – public place

She was released on an undertaking with a scheduled court date in August.

Dispute Leads to Multiple Charges

On June 6th at 2:55 a.m., Belleville Police observed a male involved in a verbal dispute with several other individuals.

Police began an investigation, during which the male entered a vehicle and attempted to flee. Officers were able to stop the vehicle and directed the driver to exit. The male displayed signs of impairment and was placed under arrest. During the arrest, he resisted police and refused to provide identification. While in custody, he also uttered threats toward officers.

As a result, a 32-year-old Brighton man, was arrested and charged with:

· Failure or refusal to comply with a demand

· Operation while impaired – alcohol

· Uttering threats – cause death or bodily harm

· Resist peace officer

· Obstruct peace officer

He was held for a bail hearing.

Theft and Mischief

On June 6th at 7:09 p.m., Belleville Police responded to North Front Street regarding a theft. It was reported that a male was observed stealing multiple cell phones and other merchandise from two separate businesses before fleeing the area on foot.

It was further reported that while fleeing, the suspect threw some stolen phones back onto the business property, causing damage to the merchandise. As a result of investigation, officers located, arrested and charged Patrick Joron, 26-year-old Belleville man of no fixed address, with:

· Theft under $5,000 X2

· Mischief – destroys or damages property

· Fail to comply with probation order

He was released on an Undertaking with a scheduled court date in August.

Fail to Comply

On June 7th, Belleville Police investigated an incident involving a breach of an undertaking that occurred earlier in the day. It was reported that a male attended a female’s residence despite conditions prohibiting him from communicating with her.

As a result of police investigation, a 19-year-old Belleville man was arrested and charged with Failure to comply with an Undertaking. He was released on an Undertaking with a scheduled court date in July.

Tyendinaga resident Arnold Portt, who presented the petition to council earlier this month, tells Quinte News
the petition to council contained 362 names and more have signed on since.

Township council closed the bridge to traffic in late 2024 after engineering reports concluded the bridge was in
a dilapidated condition and needed work.

Portt says the closed bridge is a major inconvenience to many residents and maintains the bridge should be
reopened, pointing to a 2024 staff report, saying engineers ultimately concluded the bridge was still safe to
use.

Below are comments to Quinte News from Tyendinaga Township Mayor Claire Kennelly last week.

“Well we put it in the budget this year to tender it to have somebody remove it – get ahead of the game.  Unfortunately we had to do another bridge first.  Our money has gone for this year and next year to replace that bridge first because it’s on a main thoroughfare.”