By Rhonda Massad
www.thesuburban.com
A public consultation was held on Nov. 17, in Beaconsfield to revisit the zoning issue of Le Club West Island a.k.a The Tennis Club.
The property located at 205 Alton Drive is currently zoned for commercial-recreational. The proposed zoning change allows for 88 condo units ranging from 700-1,000 square feet, 13 townhouses and 162 parking spaces covering 35 per cent of the lot surface.
According to chairman of the urban planning committee, city Councillor Pierre Demers, the project is in line with the Montreal’s new regional development plan promoting density along the transit corridor.
“I think this project is a very good thing for Beaconsfield,” Demers told The Suburban in an interview, “It integrates very well in the area and any time we have an opportunity to help reduce urban sprawl by increasing densification near an important public transit point, such as a train station, we should take advantage of it.”
In a previous attempt at a zoning change for this location more than four years ago, the city faced pressure from residents, including sitting Mayor Georges Bourelle, to keep the recreational tennis facility instead of allowing condo development.
At the Nov. 17 meeting, Beaconsfield’s director of urban planning Denis Chabot put forth a presentation that not only changes the zone to multifamily but also includes a strict list of amendments to make any future development adaptable to residents with reduced mobility.
The amendments to the construction bylaw would include such things any lobby must have space clearing of 1.5 meters in diameter, the building intercom system must be of a minimum height of one metre and a maximum height of 1.2 metres to allow wheel chair access, floor covering must be hard surface, carpet is prohibited and door handles must be of a lever type.
Former mayoral candidate in the 2013 elections, Héla Labene, requested the tax increase for the city, should the new project move forward. Though the panel was unable to answer the question immediately the answer of an increase in revenue for the project is estimated at $66,000 was eventually produced by Beaconsfield’s director general Patrice Boileau before the end of the meeting.
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