May 12, 2015 Residents Seek ‘Curbside Parking’ for Themselves, Guests Mt
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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT Weekly. Vol. ) No. (b We are Westmount May &', '%&( Ground collapses, trailer falls Beavers say thanks at Metcalfe construction site B6 L*42,,0 S5,,0,6 to the area immediately west and south just before 3 am, but it was restored at It was 1:23 am May 1 when a resident of 4:10 am. Abbott Ave. called Public Security to report Roads were blocked in the area through - that a section of ground had collapsed in out. The site was declared safe at 5:40 am. front of the condo construction site at 175 A hydrant close by was declared out of Metcalfe, department officials said. order though it was not reported damaged Officers reported finding earth had been in the incident, McBain said. washed away, a construction trailer had Because of the hour, the cause and se - tipped over on its side, and the basement quence of events were not immediately of the new building was flooded with some known, according to Public Works offi - eight to 10 feet of water from what seemed cials. The incident remained under inves - to have been a ruptured water pipe. tigation. The trailer came to rest against a 60- While initial reports from the scene in - foot-deep retaining wall described as built dicated a water main going into the site for the collection of water as part of the had burst, washing out the ground be - construction project, explained Public Se - neath, “It’s not clear what happened,” said curity director Greg McBain in relaying Public Works director Marianne Zalzal. The Beavers Scouts of Westmount Park visited Station 12 May 1 during the Scouts’ “good turn week” details of the report. Water had to be pumped out of the site, when “youth learn to give back to the community by rendering services for free or giving thanks to vital Firefighters were called at 1:35 am, fol - and the trailer required a crane to move it, community services,” said Beaver leader Razan Saigh. They presented Constable Stephan Laperrière lowed by Gaz Métro, whose crews cut the which occurred at 6:27 pm the same day. with thank-you cards and cookies, as officer Luis Guerra Lopez looks on. Photo courtesy of Razan Saigh supply of gas from under the affected area as a precaution. Water was turned off at Snow rules melt away in May Residents sue super- 2:17 am and Westmount Hydro cut power O ve rnight clearing okay for hospital, see p. 3. N°3 in Quebec* EXTRAORDINARY lives here driveways, new hours for lots B6 L*42,,0 S5,,0,6 came in response to requests last Decem - ber from residents and their contractors. LIZA KAUFMAN It was a 28-degree day May 4 when city They claimed the nighttime curfew on the Certified real estate broker council announced relaxed snow removal clearing of driveways between 9 pm and 7 B.514.934.1818 514.232.5932 regulations. The changes would allow con - am left insufficient time for the work to be lizakaufman.com C.514.912.1482 tractors to clear private driveways done in a safe and timely manner before [email protected] overnight and provide them with four the start of the work day and school. more hours to clean large lots. The issue was complicated by the fact www.baudinet.ca “I think we’ve found the right solution,” that the same set of regulations did not said Mayor Peter Trent when the changes seem to apply to driveways and to large were tabled. parking lots, which use sothebysrealty.ca COURTIER IMMOBILIER AGRÉÉ FRANCHISÉ INDÉPENDANT ET AUTONOME SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY QUÉBEC LK | REAL ESTATE AGENCY Modifica t ions to t h e cit y’s noise by-law heavy equipment having continued on p. 15 Top 1% *Individual for RLP It’s Summer time! Come out and join us on the Terrasse St-Ambroise! BBQ menu & Award-Winning beer on tap. 5080 St-Ambroise (along the Lachine Canal) Free Parking! Information: www.mcauslan.com [email protected] or 514-939-3060 bierestambroise bierestambroise terrassestambroise 2 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – May 12, 2015 Residents seek ‘curbside parking’ for themselves, guests Mt. Stephen group protests new reserved parking B6 L*42,,0 S5,,0,6 the way it was,” said Betsy Pomeranz, after voicing her concern at the meeting. A dozen residents of Mount Stephen Residents who have driveways or park - turned out at the May 4 city council meet - ing aprons have lost “curbside parking” in ing to protest the creation of reserved park - front of their houses, they said. They are ing zones for permit holders on their no longer able to park in the new zones re - street. The changes were enacted three served for holders of orange permits (stick - months ago to help ease parking for resi - ers) 24 hours a day. These are available dents living around the Shaar only to residents of Mount Stephen, Hashomayim synagogue. Springfield and Metcalfe who do not have While similar changes were made to parking on their property. These include Metcalfe and Springfield, the Mount residents of the apartment building. Stephen residents presented a petition One of the main concerns cited in the stating the solution should not apply to petition, however, was “no longer” being their street. able to use previous yellow visitor permits It was signed by 27 home owners though which would allow their guests to park in residents of the apartment building had the reserved zones. They claimed that dur - not been surveyed. ing a public consultation meeting January Despite never having had a major park - 31 they had been promised these could be ing problem on Mount Stephen before, used at all times. they said, they felt they were “unfairly ac - Sam Berliner asked for “immediate” per - commodating” issues that related to mission to use the guest passes, and obtain Springfield and Metcalfe. They also said more if needed. As he read the petition, they had not received replies to their com - residents rose from their seats to stand plaints from the city’s Transportation Ad - behind him. visory Committee (TAC). He said it was “unfair” “All we want is to have our street back to and “unreasonable” to ask continued on p. 10 Sam Berliner of Mount Stephen presents the parking petition to city council May 4, supported by a contingent of fellow residents. SUBARU-MONTREAL.com 514-737-1880 NAMUR NEW GENERATION 2015 XV CROSSTREK Lease price from 48 MONTHS */month, $299Taxes extra Freight and preparation included Think All-Wheel Drive. Think Subaru 4900 Pare Street, Montreal north of the Jean-Talon/Victoria intersection, east of Decarie NAMUR *Representative lease offer is based on 2015 XV Crosstrek 2.0i Touring (FX1 TP), manual transmission. Monthly payments of $299 for a 48-month term. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/yr. 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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – May 12, 2015 – 3 Former councillor Ikeman questions WRC’s bright lights B6 L*42,,0 S5,,0,6 of lighting at the site of the Westmount impact on the neighbourhood?” he asked. players needed height to see higher balls. recreation centre (WRC). “With the tennis courts, we did,” Mayor Martin had reported the adjustability of Former District 5 city councillor Gary Admitting it was unusual for ex-Solons Peter Trent replied. the lights when council approved recon - Ikeman returned to the council chamber to raise issues during question period, he “I had enormous concerns,” explained struction of the junior courts and new May 4 to raise concerns over the brightness said he believed it was important for them Councillor Patrick Martin, who said he lighting August 4, 2014. They were de - to do so given their “insights” into the city, had objected to the height of the poles, scribed at the time as being “‘adjustable’ to and in his particular case, the WRC, in about 40 feet. He said the city had been as - reduce glare at nearby apartment build - whose planning he participated during his sured by the project’s contractor that the ings and control the intensity of light” (see term of office (2009 to 2013). poles and light fixtures could be reconfig - story August 12, p. 1). Speaking as a resident of St. Catherine ured and adjusted. The LED lighting would save about St. in the “POM” condos across from the “It can be cheaper with fewer lights on $1,000 a year in energy costs, Martin had WRC, he said the lights on top of the high higher poles,” he explained. As w el l , tennis e xpla ine d . poles around the pool looked like prison lights or those at an airport-landing strip. Noting some around the parking lot had Maxwell Castle Real Estate Broker Tel: 514-941-8802 been “decommissioned,” he also expressed concern about the installation of the six “overly bright” lights around the newly re - SOLD built junior tennis courts to the east of the WRC. “Has anyone looked into it in terms of Residents sue NDG: 2272 Wilson Ave.