Beaconsfield mayor doesn’t want
“aesthetics of suburbs to the east of us”
By Robert Frank
Proposals to preserve Beaconsfield’s bucolic charm have
offended many citizens who showed up at an information meeting at city hall,
Sept. 17, to ask about proposed new zoning rules.
offended many citizens who showed up at an information meeting at city hall,
Sept. 17, to ask about proposed new zoning rules.
“People want to have the feeling of being in the country and
want that sort of aesthetic,” observed District 3 councilor Wade Staddon. “At a
point, it’s a philosophical choice.”
want that sort of aesthetic,” observed District 3 councilor Wade Staddon. “At a
point, it’s a philosophical choice.”
The city plans to table a zoning bylaw at its Sept. 24
meeting that would revise Beaconsfield’s zoning rules for the first time in two
decades.
meeting that would revise Beaconsfield’s zoning rules for the first time in two
decades.
City urban planning director Denis Chabot told citizens who
attended the meeting that details will be published in an advertisement in The Suburban, and are also available on
the city’s www.beaconsfield.ca web site.
attended the meeting that details will be published in an advertisement in The Suburban, and are also available on
the city’s www.beaconsfield.ca web site.
“There are communities, particularly to the east of us, where owners have done a lot of renovation and the aesthetics
have been compromised,” said Mayor David Pollock. “We don’t want that to happen
here.”
have been compromised,” said Mayor David Pollock. “We don’t want that to happen
here.”
The most stringent restrictions would be imposed on
residents who live on the south side of waterfront streets, to ensure that
passersby can see the lake.
residents who live on the south side of waterfront streets, to ensure that
passersby can see the lake.
During the meeting, Lakeshore road resident Shelly Baird
questioned Chabot about inconsistencies in the proposals.
questioned Chabot about inconsistencies in the proposals.
Chabot acknowledged that prestigious waterfront properties
along Gables Court, East Gables Court and Thompson Point would be exempt from
the visual access provisions.
along Gables Court, East Gables Court and Thompson Point would be exempt from
the visual access provisions.
“The city’s master plan includes only riverfront roads, so
these streets are not included in the view bylaw,” he explained.
these streets are not included in the view bylaw,” he explained.
Baird also asked about new rules that would ban construction
material or equipment from driveways of south-side lakefront properties.
material or equipment from driveways of south-side lakefront properties.
Chabot replied that equipment will, in fact, be permitted
“during season of use.”
“during season of use.”
He confirmed that, off-season “you will be allowed to store
your sailboat on the side and block the view [of Lake St. Louis].”
your sailboat on the side and block the view [of Lake St. Louis].”
He explained that the restriction on obstructions to public
view “only applies to permanent structures like walls.”
view “only applies to permanent structures like walls.”
Elizabeth Nader-di Genova has initiated a petition against
what she considers discriminatory new zoning rules, attracting 50 signatures in
the first 24 hours.
what she considers discriminatory new zoning rules, attracting 50 signatures in
the first 24 hours.
“Lakeshore road residents face far more restrictions than
any other Beaconsfield citizens,” she told The
Suburban in an interview following Monday’s information meeting. “I’m
surprised that they still let us come home late at night.”
any other Beaconsfield citizens,” she told The
Suburban in an interview following Monday’s information meeting. “I’m
surprised that they still let us come home late at night.”
She was incredulous that “city councilors like District 1
representative Michael Montagno, who lives on the north side of Lakeshore, are
advocating measures like these against their neighbours across the street.”
representative Michael Montagno, who lives on the north side of Lakeshore, are
advocating measures like these against their neighbours across the street.”
“The city circulated the zoning notice in mid-summer, when
many people were on vacation,” she added. “Many people didn’t know about the
proposals, particularly seniors who don’t have access to the Internet.”
many people were on vacation,” she added. “Many people didn’t know about the
proposals, particularly seniors who don’t have access to the Internet.”