Accessory Dwelling Units May Be Coming to Pointe-Claire

Pointe-Claire homeowners may soon have new freedoms to build new accessory units on their properties.

At the regular council meeting on Nov. 5, council took the first steps towards allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their properties by approving a series of draft by-laws that would amend the city’s existing by-laws. Since there is no single by-law regulating ADUs in Pointe-Claire, the proposed changes touch upon multiple by-laws, including a Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program by-law and a Construction by-law.

ADUs have quickly grown in popularity across the country in recent years, with several provinces seeing them as partial solutions to the housing crisis and a reliable additional source of income for homeowners. But Pointe-Claire’s by-laws currently restrict the construction of ADUs.

At the beginning of the meeting, Councillor Eric Stork spoke in favour of the initiative. “It’s a real great initiative to increase the housing stock, let people stay in their homes, let their relatives, their parents stay in the home by adding a dwelling over your garage or in your backyard,” he said.

Council will vote to adopt the amendments at a future council meeting.

City to Borrow Tens of Millions for Infrastructure, Other Projects

The City of Pointe-Claire will borrow nearly $20 million to fund a range of projects, from sewers to green spaces.

At the November council meeting, council approved several borrowing bylaws with a total combined value of $19,020,000. These funds will be used for a diversity of projects, including parks, municipal buildings, and bike paths.

Council previously approved nearly $26 million in loans for a similar variety of projects last November.

Council Wants Montreal to Keep Fluoridating Water

City council hopes the City of Montreal will continue to fluoridate Pointe-Claire’s water, and now they’ve adopted a motion to that effect.

Council unanimously adopted its motion at the November council meeting. It comes as the City of Montreal plans to phase out water fluoridation for the West Island, citing concerns about water infrastructure, the environment, and children’s health.

Although he voted for the motion in the end, Councillor Brent Cowan expressed some reservations. He cited a petitioner who, within the last four years, has circulated a petition in the community to stop fluoridation.

The petitioner in question is Ray Coelho, a Pointe-Claire resident whose petition had reached more than 2,000 signatures at the time of the meeting. 

“I question that we pass a resolution like this where we pay no recognition about a petition that’s out there,” said Cowan. “I’m not very content with the way this thing is going in, but not sufficiently to vote against all my colleagues.”

December 3rd Council Meeting - by The Pointe-Claire Record

A contract of just under $2.75M was awarded for the reconstruction of the old PDQ 5 police station. The station is to undergo a rapid transformation to allow the Pointe-Claire Volunteer Rescue Unit to move in with the other emergency services in the area and redevelop the space for Pointe-Claire’s Inspection – Public Security Department. Having all emergency services located in the same area will greatly enhance collaboration and coordination among these groups. 

Based on the favourable recommendation of the Planning Advisory Committee, a minor exemption re quest was approved by council for the future Supermarché PA, situated at 15-19 Donegani Avenue. The request was approved to allow for the addition of a second storey, as well as permission for two addi tional signs to be placed on the building’s facade.