Mayor, Martin, Lulham and others on WAG arena site proposal, p. 3-7 WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT Weekly. Vol. 3 No. 7c We are Westmount July 14-15, 2009 Mayor: Council won’t consider any other site Web audio coming for Arena/pool decision unlikely by current council question period By Laureen Sweeney As well, despite three councillors call- by Councillor Patrick Martin to build some ing for a closer look at the Westmount Ath- of the proposed new facilities at the West- It now appears that Westmount will not letic Grounds (see story on p. 3), council mount Athletic Grounds. This option, he have a shovel-ready plan for the will not be considering other sites, she maintains, could shave $8 million off the arena/pool renewal project before munic- said. now $35 million project, lessen the impact ipal elections November 1, Mayor Karin With the dissolution of this council at the existing site and provide space for a Marks confirmed following the city coun- after its October 1 meeting, further deci- future indoor pool (see June 30, p. 1). cil meeting July 6. sions on the plan will pass to the newly Marks said the city, on principle, would elected council, Marks said. “We’ll keep not build on parkland and did not want to working on it as long as we’re legally al- shift the impact to another neighbourhood We’ll be back! lowed to,” she said. Meanwhile, “we might that uses the athletic grounds as a park have some idea of possible grant money.” just as “we wouldn’t build it in the middle The Indie is taking a construction- of Westmount Park or King George [Mur- holiday break and this is our last issue WAG site voted down ray] Park.” for July. Thank you to all our readers, Marks also told the Independent council The large tract of sports advertisers, supporters and suppliers. had voted down (in camera) the proposal field behind Westmount continued on p. 3 We’ll be back in the office the week of You won’t have to come to council meetings to August 3 to prepare for an issue the hear questions from Stan Grossman (above) and next week. Westmount facing several major others, as well as answers. 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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – July 14-15, 2009 – 3 No arena revisions by Labour Day Lulham: WAG merits closer look, Marks replied, “I think they’re looking at let citizens decide continued from p.1 the east side [of the site]… but there’s no By Laureen Sweeney green space, the cost savings to citizens High was the original site of the city’s consideration to putting it at another site.” could be an important component. It does- recreation department after its purchase When asked by David Parsons of Acad- Councillor Cynthia Lulham, who repre- n’t contain big trees, and it’s such a large from the Montreal Amateur Athletic As- emy Rd. if the pool would be relocated to sents the district where both the West- space that the rinks would take up only a sociation in 1936. Bordering the railway, it the current area of the junior tennis mount Athletic Grounds (WAG) and the percentage of it. We could still keep our includes a running track, baseball dia- courts, Marks said only to another part of current arena are located, said last week community gardens, tennis courts and mond, football field, community gardens, the “recreational perimeter,” though it is she was “very upset” council had voted other facilities.” She also said the rinks dog run, playground and tennis courts. believed that council is considering build- down the idea of looking at the WAG site could be built along the back at the tracks As former city councillor Nicolas ing on the courts and moving them else- as an option. and serve as a sound barrier. Matossian and others pressed her for up- where in the park. “It’s our responsibility to do our due Because of current lights at Hillside dates during the July council meeting, she Council also voted to set up a commit- diligence and explore its potential,” she Lane, traffic flow would not have to said that “hopefully by the fall we may tee to establish the criteria for the hiring said. “I haven’t heard a reason for not in- change, Westmount High’s parking lot for have something to present to the public of an eventual project manager of the vestigating it further that has convinced well over 100 cars could be used at night, and a clear indication from the govern- arena/pool project. me not to.” and the Lane could be used as an arena ment what we might have [as a grant] to She supports Councillor Patrick Mar- drive that would not disrupt residents on go on.” tin’s proposal to build the two proposed Hillside Ave. ‘Mum’ on timing rinks at that location. “He’s the one on If the site turns out to be a feasible op- council with the most experience in this tion, Lulham said, “we should present it to She said, however, she could not make Brian Gans area.” Martin is an engineer and project citizens and let them decide. I don’t think a commitment as to timing of a revised Notary planner. Councillor Kathleen Duncan, an it will affect our chance at obtaining a plan, but it would not be by Labour Day urban planning student, also told the In- grant.” In fact, she said, the current pro- (September 7). A “lull” in presenting new Title Attorney dependent she supports the proposal. jected cost of $35 million “to shoehorn information has resulted from architec- And Lulham, who is commissioner of everything into the existing site – which tural repositioning of the pool, and access [email protected] Urban Planning and served 10 years as can be done – worries me.” to parking and traffic flow on the site, she Sports and Recreation commissioner, at- She said that pursuing further investi- explained. 4060 St. Catherine West tacked the argument that the WAG is gation is not a backward step and the Melville resident Patrick Barnard asked Suite 620 parkland and shouldn’t have an athletic fa- process should not be rushed.