westmount postpones vote on southeast sector redevelopment plan
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the special planning program for the southeast sector, which borders downtown montreal, includes allowing four 20-storey towers to be built on the south side of ste-catherine st. w., just west of atwater ave., and allowing seven- to 12-storey buildings on dorchester blvd., across from victorian row houses.
allen mcinnis/montreal gazette
the city of westmount has postponed a crucial vote on its controversial redevelopment plan for the southeast sector to sept. 18.
city council’s final vote on the plan was to take place on monday, sept. 8. however, the city announced the new date on wednesday.
“there are some changes that required some verification in the bylaws,” mayor christina smith told the gazette. she added that westmount wanted to “make sure everything was reviewed in detail.”
the special planning program for the southeast sector, which borders downtown montreal, includes allowing four 20-storey towers to be built on the south side of ste-catherine st. w., just west of atwater ave., and allowing seven- to 12-storey buildings on dorchester blvd., across from victorian row houses.
smith had told the gazette in july that she was open to tweaking the plan before the council vote and said “slight” modifications could be expected.
the mini urban plan has been the subject of public consultations by westmount — and open letters. lately, groups for and against the plan have circulated petitions.
one group, saying it’s composed of southeast sector residents, ran a full-page ad for its petition in the local newspaper westmount independent last week calling for the vote to be postponed until after the nov. 2 municipal election.
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calling the plan “a forest of highrises,” the ad says: “we want change. we want revitalization. but we want it done right. we’re not anti-growth. we’re not anti-modernization. we are pro-community.”
another group, saying it’s composed of “residents, business owners and professionals working in westmount,” launched a petition urging council to approve the special planning program.
“after years of decay, abandoned lots and over two years of consultation and planning,” the petition says, “it is time to move forward with this transformative vision for ste-catherine st. near atwater — several more years of delays is not an option.”
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