Wilfrid-Lavigne at des Allumettières

Controversial residential project – Council will have to decide

On December 6, City Council will make a decision on a request for minor variances and conditional use within a controversial residential project on Marquis Street. A group of residents is opposed to the project  planned near the intersection of Wilfrid-Lavigne and des Allumettières Boulevards.

The minor variances requested are to reduce the front setback of the 100 Marquis  building from 10.5 metres to 7 metres. This would apply only to the first main building adjacent to the commercial building and is, according to the supplicant, necessary to preserve an  alignment similar to the other multifamily buildings of the project.

A second variance requested is to reduce the minimum number of parking spaces from 117 to 101. This would reduce the ratio to 1.29 spaces per housing unit while the minimum presently required is 1.5.

The builders also want to reduce the requirement of minimal classes 1 or 2 material (architectural stone, brick, acrylic stucco, etc.) for the multifamily 18 units building model – from 75% to 40% for the front and to 50% for the side façade. The supplicant also wants to reduce classes 1 and 2 material for the 12-unit multifamily building – from 75% to 50% for the front and side façade. According to project architect Christian Rheault, respecting the 75% requirement would “compromise the harmony of the large openings and material accents of the models currently presented by adding more masonry surfaces which is, according to us, not desirable.” The Comité consultatif d’urbanisme (CCU) had not recommended this request for variances at its September 12 meeting.