The controversial Fairview parking lot development can go ahead.
On Tuesday evening, Pointe-Claire councilors voted 6-3 in favour of removing the project from the city’s development freeze.
Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas voted against it.
“I have mixed reaction, that it went the way it went,” said Thomas afterwards. “I think the process was fair and honest and democratic, so worse things could have happened.”
Cadillac Fairview announced it was suing the city earlier this year for implementing the freeze, which prevented plans to redevelop the southwest parking lot of the Fairview shopping centre.
Now that council has voted in favour of removing that area from the freeze, councilors want the developer to draw up a comprehensive plan.
Currently, the plan includes two 25-story towers with 445 apartments, as well as a 20-story senior’s residence, a grocery store, restaurants and a 50,000 sq.ft public space.
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But Thomas said he’s unsure how that will help.
“We simply have less control over that development. It will be much harder to limit height and size,” he said.
Modifications or amendments to the plan are still possible. Despite Cadillac Fairview being removed from a development freeze, public consolations are still being planned this fall for a future vision of the city.
There also still needs to be building permits issued and other bureaucratic steps to follow before the project begins.
“I would have liked more citizen consultation and participation in the decision,” added Thomas.
A townhall will be held on Saturday to discuss the project. The freeze remains for the rest of the projects, including the development of the Fairview forest, located across the street on the west side of the Fairview parking lot.
But one community group is concerned. It worries the adjacent forest, which is also owned by Cadillac Fairview, could be threatened by the proposed real estate project.
“It’s quiet large. Then the traffic, then the subsequent phases that will come around that,” said Geneviève Lussier of Save the Fairview Forest.
“We really don’t know what the impact of that will be on the forest.”
Cadillac Fairview declined a request by Global News for an interview. In an email, a spokesperson wrote “we are pleased about this outcome and were attentive to the comments made by the city councilors.”
A final council vote will be held on May 3.
— with files from Global News’ Tim Sargeant
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