By Dan Laxer
The Suburban
The proposed redevelopment of Westmount’s southeast sector continues to stir controversy for some of the city’s residents. Knowing that last week’s public consultation evening to inform residents of the latest version of the Southeast Special Planning Program would draw more people than council chambers could hold, council held the event at Victoria Hall.
Mayor Christina Smith and her Urban Planning team repeated several times throughout the meeting that the proposal is just that, a vision rather than a concrete plan.
“What we will present this evening is not a construction project,” Smith said, “it is not building applications. It’s a roadmap. It’s a planning tool that will help guide the future development of this area while respecting its architectural and heritage identity.”
The new version was prepared by Lemay Architects last month. It addressed concerns about density. The original proposal called for a 25-storey tower at the south-west corner of Ste. Catherine and Atwater, next to the Atwater Library. The new proposal now calls for just 20 storeys with three more towers further along Ste. Catherine.
The new proposal also calls for the use of podiums in the construction of new towers, which would mean the buildings could be set further back from the street.
“What can we do,” Smith asked, “to ensure that younger generations can continue living in our city? What solutions can we offer our growing number of seniors residents who want to continue living in our city in suitable accommodations?”
Jessica Winton, a recent graduate of Concordia University’s Urban Planning program, said she appreciates the new proposal’s improvements over the original, but expressed concern about affordable housing.
Westmount Urban Planning Director Frédéric Neault responded that the proposal will increase housing, adapt existing standards in terms of dwelling size from 700 square feet to 550 square feet – “the equivalent of a one-room apartment.”
The proposal is supposed to go to a vote on September 8. Former Westmount Mayor Karin Marks called on council to hold off on the vote until after the next election, asking that the vote not be rushed, but be handed over to the next council “to complete the project.”
Resident James Murphy supports the plan, referring to the area in question as “the blight in Southeast Westmount.” He praised the mayor for taking community feedback into account with the new version of the plan, saying “I think we’re at the point, now, we just need to move forward, do it as soon as possible so that we can start welcoming the new neighbours and the new businesses that can bring that area to life.” n