Published August 16, 2024

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

St. Laurent council passed a bylaw amendment at its recent council meeting – a first for Montreal – to help reduce the risk of birds flying into the glass surfaces of new buildings, as part of the borough’s effort to protect biodiversity.

The bylaw amendment was passed amidst a great deal of new construction that is an ongoing phenomenon in the Greater Montreal area.

The bylaw prohibits transparent glass on exterior railings. As well, “new evaluation criteria have been introduced in order to design buildings and landscaping in such a way as to protect birds in the vicinity of the borough’s natural environments.”

The borough will also soon be launching an information campaign “focusing on single-family, two-family and multiplex residential buildings, which are not covered by the bylaw amendment,” says a St. Laurent statement. “The campaign will be followed, in 2025, by a public awareness campaign. The objective will be to encourage the public to act responsibly, not only to minimize the risks of collisions for birds, but also to promote their well-being.”

“By amending zoning bylaw RCA08-08-0001, St. Laurent is aiming to reduce collision risks and ensure the protection of birds. Some types of buildings with more than 50 percent glass surfaces or windows on the exterior walls will require special treatment for new construction, extensions or exterior modifications. This is the case for multi-family dwellings, multi-family service dwellings, multi-bedroom dwellings; industrial, retail or service buildings, and buildings in a park or green space.”

The borough says that, as a result, “90 percent of the glass panes on these buildings, including greenhouses and railings, located less than 16 m from the ground or less than 4 m from the green roof level, must now be subject to the special treatment detailed in the bylaw. Such measures help reduce the reflectivity of the glass surface, and, consequently, the risk of bird collisions.”

As well, “only opaque, frosted or fritted glass or glass incorporating visual markers may now be used as railings on buildings or structures throughout St. Laurent territory.”

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