Voices are raised at a public consultation meeting

While there were few zoning change projects on the table during a public consultation meeting held in the council chamber at City Hall on Sept. 2, discussions continued late into the evening. And not always calmly…

The PIIA, what's that?
Several residents from the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district had come to express their concerns and to question an architectural implementation and integration plan (PIIA) proposed by the City of Laval. What set off apprehension among the residents of the area was the proposed modification of heritage territory limits which are set out in the PIIA.
"Will we have to ask for authorization each time we want to change a door handle?" said one alarmed resident. For the majority of residents of the area, the term "heritage" reminded them almost immediately of strict prohibitions of any changes which are often imposed in areas designated as having heritage value."This is not the case of a heritage zone, where the rules are much more strict," Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt repeated several times. "The PIIA is not out to modify the possibilities for renovation and construction. We voluntarily and knowingly omitted putting in precise norms. This is a tool that is flexible and that allows for interesting compromises."
The new measures are for construction and renovation projects that require a permit. Also, the rules and norms already in place wouldn't have to be modified. Whether it were for the allowed height of a building or the allowed area of a floor based on the size of the lot, the only extra disposition would be to subject permit requests to the approbation of the PIIA.
"The object of this bylaw is to pursue the enshrinement of the visual heritage of the sector," Sylvain Dubois, Laval's director of urban planning, said many times. "It is an enshrinement in which the architects of the urban planning service will review the project with you [the concerned residents], while offering you counseling and suggestions. It is a guide for the architects who will accompany you in the process, making suggestions without obligation. It aims to avoid badly conceived projects."

Massive opposition to condo projects
The last item of the evening, which had been very anticipated by about 50 Chomedey residents, concerned a request for a zoning change in order to permit the construction of a multi-family building of 49 units on Bertin Street opposite Jacques Plante St.
The residents of the area in question were well-organized and well-informed. It should be pointed out that for six years now, they've been waiting for facilities and services that were incentives to move there and that were promised by the promoter, Construction Lovatech.
"When we bought, we were told that the lot in question [as per the request for a zoning change] was commercial and would probably become a convenience store or a daycare," said Elizabeth Kraska, the owner of a triplex in the area, who helped mobilize support from other residents who were at the meeting last Thursday. She added that not all the triplexes in the area are only two storeys.
"You were well-informed," Vaillancourt replied to her. "The current zoning of the lot allows commercial. But the current owner, Investissement Dufresne, is proposing another kind of project, some very high quality condominiums."
Invited to present the project, Marc-André Lagacé, who was responsible for the project, and Yves Émond, the architect, submitted a draft to residents of the neighbourhood. The draft outlines plans for a concrete structure of six storeys, in which the 49 units are designed for families. "In the sector, there's not much chance of a convenience store being set up, "concluded Émond, addressing the worries of the area's resident, who foresee an increase in car traffic in the streets, a change of demographics and a disruption of visual harmony. "In my opinion, it's maybe the best solution."
"We oppose the project, we don't want to hear the explanations," Kraska cut in, speaking on behalf of the area's residents. In addition to anticipating an upsurge of local problems and comings and goings, Kraska and many other owners and renters feel that the arrival of a massive condo building will have an effect on their capacity to rent their apartments.
Many were those who questioned the logic of the urban planning department in approving such a project. "I am very disappointed," said Patrick Paquette, owner of a building in the neighbourhood. "I cannot believe that you are thinking of building towers in the neighbourhood."
"I invested a lot of money in my properties, by believing what I was told [construction of a business nearby and creation of a playground]," added Kraska. "If I had known, I would not have bought here."
When questioned on the truthfulness of claims that Investissements Dufresne got an offer for the land at the heart of the discussions from a promoter who wanted to build duplexes, Marc-André Lagacé was unable to respond. "Sincerely, I don't know, it's only a month I've been working for Dufresne," he said.
Questioned as to why he was delegated to represent the business at the meeting when so many questions were bound to be raised, he replied that much as the project is important to Jocelyn Dufresne, the owner of Investissements Dufresne, Dufresne had appointments at that same time elsewhere. "He's at a Red Cross golf tournament," Lagacé said.
Without any doubt it's a dossier to be followed.