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Mayor John Belvedere announced that the City of Pointe-Claire is continuing to examine the options in extending the Financial Assistance Program for Stormwater Management on Residential Properties to the common areas of condominiums and townhouses. As of the September meeting, 185 applications had been made by owners of single-family dwellings, with 132 accepted. It's expected that more will be accepted as residents finalize their applications and more get processed.

Councillor Andrew Swidzinski of District 4 – Cedar Park Heights announced two decisions made by the city’s Traffic Committee, with the good news that parking restrictions on the west side of Vista Ave. would only be limited to the times that buses are in service on the 230 STM bus route. The news was less favourable for residents of the Greenwich area, as the committee decided not to allow overnight winter parking in the neighbourhood.

Question Period

The question period began with further concerns of Greenwich residents who had experienced two flooding events. A resident representing the co-owners of the Square Equinox condominiums wanted to know if they would eventually be eligible for the financial assistance program, given that they pay property taxes that help fund the program for owners of single-family homes.

A group of parents from the L’Académie des Petites Mains daycare on Delmar sought assurances that the city would help find a new location for the daycare, which serves 80 families, ahead of its impending demolition. They also asked whether the city could maintain the development freeze under the interim control by-law. A notice of motion was put forward to lift the freeze on the site; the motion will be put to a vote at a future date.

A resident asked when the new urban plan would be provided to the public. The city said it was expected to be ready by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The resident also questioned why development projects are being removed from the freeze before the urban plan has been finalized.

Questions were raised about the FP Innovations site. One resident asked whether by-laws require developers to set aside a portion of their land for a park or green space. Another expressed concerns about the effects of densification on the neighbourhood, including increased traffic and heavy vehicles, as well as a potential loss of privacy for neighbouring properties if a 10-storey building were constructed.

The mayor answered the first question, explaining that the developer would be required to contribute either 10 per cent of the land’s value to a fund for parks or a portion of the land itself, if available.

A resident requested that the city compile an inventory of properties where drainage ditches on Sunnyside Ave. have been deliberately blocked.

Concerns were raised about the Montreal agglomeration’s decision to discontinue its annual hazardous waste collection program in Pointe-Claire. Mayor Belvedere said he was in talks with the agglomeration about reinstating the service. A question was also raised about the lack of Consignaction facilities in Pointe-Claire.

In Pointe-Claire Village news, a resident expressed dismay over the illegal felling of trees next to Studio 77. The mayor said the city would investigate why the trees had been cut without a permit. Other residents asked about plans for the former Métro Auto Body garage at 326 du Bord-du-Lac-Lakeshore Road, expressing concern about the lack of parking for the proposed art gallery and offices. All plans regarding the site were later approved unanimously.

A resident raised concerns about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians travelling to REM stations and asked about potential infrastructure upgrades and traffic-calming measures.

Windmill funding saga comes to a close

Council unanimously adopted a by-law establishing a financial assistance program for the preservation and restoration of built cultural heritage. The by-law will provide the funding needed to access the $640,000 available through Quebec’s Heritage Partnership Program, administered by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, for the windmill’s restoration.

“Sometimes it wasn’t fun — it was ugly,” said Mayor Belvedere of the process of getting the funding by-law passed. “But this is a great ending to […] the beginning of a new chapter that we’ll all be proud of down the road.”

From barn to apartments

A final resolution approving the SCAOPI (spot zoning change) for 3300 Des Sources, the site of the former Bar-B-Barn restaurant, passed in a 5–3 vote. The resolution would allow for the construction of a 12-storey, 249-unit residential building, with 10 per cent of the units meeting the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) definition of affordable housing.

Three councillors opposed the resolution. Councillor Ludovic Matthews of District 2 said his vote was based on “the primordial need for an active mixed-use ground floor within a TOD [transit-oriented development] zone, especially on the corner of one of the most important intersections in the West Island.”

Councillor Swidzinski echoed the sentiment, worried about a potential loss of commercial space in the area, saying that “our commercial services are very easy to give up. They’re not so easy to preserve in the city, and I think we need to make more of an effort to preserve them.” Councillor Bruno Tremblay of District 6 cast the final opposing vote.