The auditorium of John Rennie High School was packed with almost 200 people on the evenings of June 15 and 16, filled with citizens who had something to say ― in support or against ― the Pointe Claire planning programme. A total of 60 briefs were submitted and 41 other citizens registered to address council about the draft.
Pointe Claire’s last planning programme was adopted in 1989 but due to the 2001 amalgamation, it was replaced by the Montreal Master Plan which remained after Pointe Claire’s reconstitution in 2006. The council chose not to recognize this plan and the city developed a new programme for 2010, a plan that will develop Pointe Claire over the next ten years.
On April 7, the draft of the programme was adopted by council. The draft proposes eight areas for development in Pointe Claire with a main focus on residential growth and the re-establishing of the population pyramid since there is a significant increase in the senior population.
The public consultation meetings drew a myriad of people ― from residents to business owners ― some pleased with the plan and others appalled.
Plans for condos cause ire
Perhaps the biggest issue with citizens was the idea of developing on green spaces to make way for condominiums. Concerns were raised over an influx of traffic, the possibility of attracting working couples instead of young families, as well as the loss of land for children to play in.
Several memoirs were presented to council concerning the parcel of land north of John Fisher Avenue, a soccer field used by Lindsay Place High School. The plan proposes the development of dwellings such as townhouses or condos.
“I’m against the soccer field disappearing altogether,” said Edna Schell, who presented a memoir. “I am not in favour of having semi-detached or townhouses simply because it brings a much heavier density of population and increase traffic to the area. This is a very quiet area. If there is increase traffic, the ambience of the area will be completely disturbed.”
Jacques Lamontagne of the Pointe Claire Amateur Soccer Association appealed to the council on behalf of the 2000-plus soccer players that use the city’s fields. Three soccer fields ― Paprican, Lindsay upper, and Northview ― are in danger of being developed into dwellings.
“If you are taking away three fields and at the same time, with the plan you have to bring new families to Pointe Claire, it’s pretty clear there will be more soccer players,” said Lamontagne. “If we are already short of fields and you are taking three away from us, I don’t know what we will do.”
Similar concerns over development were raised about land in Cedar Park Heights as well as the Valois area.
But not all were against the proposed developments. One citizen, Peter Gelinas, went so far as to suggest to council the development of Terra Cotta park.
“Use a large portion of Terra Cotta for seniors’ residences,” he said, amongst boos from the crowd. “Replace this lost park space with small local parks.”
The business perspective
Not only citizens voiced their opinion about the programme, however, as many businesses prepared briefs to present to council. Charlie Albano from the Mirabel Racquet Club spoke about zoning changes that will affect the club.
“Although we welcome the new proposed residential uses, losing our existing commercial uses is not acceptable to us,” he said. “The program uses the term ‘underutilized’ as justification for this proposed change, which we believe to be a self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to our property.”
The Spinelli Group, which owns several car dealerships along Auto-Plaza Avenue just north of Brunswick Boulevard, also expressed apprehension of zoning changes. The memoir presented included how the company contributed to the council’s plans for Pointe Claire.
“We wish to remain in business in Pointe Claire,” the memoir went. “Development work on our installations will be necessary. This work can be carried out under the current zoning, but not with the modifications proposed in the draft planning programme.”
The next step
“Council will take note of all the representation that has been made and will come to a decision about what we will do,” said mayor Bill McMurchie. “Will we maintain the plan in one aspect and change it in another? I have no idea. It’s a decision-making process.”
The council will adopt the final version of the urban plan in July and this will be followed by the adoptions of bylaws and zoning changes. However, unlike regular bylaw changes, for the planning programme, citizens will not be able to call for a referendum process.
“Citizens can make representation to council but the council will make the final decisions, it will not be the citizens that make the final decision,” said McMurchie.
