At the Saint-Laurent Council meeting on Tuesday, April 1, the Advisory Committee on Planning tabled its 2024 Activity Report. The Borough Councillor for Norman-McLaren District, Annie Gagnier, who served as Committee Chair last year, read the highlights.

Highlights 

A total of 113 topics were on the agenda for the 11 public meetings in 2024. These included 19 new projects including nine multifamily projects and six single-family homes, three multiplex residences and a childcare centre. Once again, the landscaping elements exceeded the minimums required under the urban planning bylaws in the following areas: 

• A total of 16.3% more green space for the 12 projects, covering 53,393 m² compared with the minimum requirement of 44,644 m².
• 18.6% more trees for all the projects combined with 548 compared with the minimum requirement of 446.
• 10% more shade surface for the total parking canopy for three projects, with 1100 m² compared with the minimum requirement of 991 m².

Furthermore, six projects proposed planted roofs covering a total surface area of 2310 m².

In the residential housing category, the Committee positively recommended the construction of 994 new multifamily residences. Of these, 727 units are included in projects striving for LEED Gold certification.

The major projects include the former Amira plant located at 5335 and 5355, boulevard Henri-Bourassa. Aiming for LEED Gold status and ZCB-Performance certification for carbon neutrality, this project involves the construction of two 10-story residential buildings comprising 522 housing units, a planted roof and a three-level underground parking facility.

The two other projects aiming for LEED Gold certification are: 

• Quorum Bourdon, located at 1910, 1920 and 1940, rue Bourdon, with 110 housing units
• Ward, located at 2200, rue Ward, with 95 housing units 

Other major projects are striving for LEED Silver certification, while the MIDTOWN project, located at 180, boulevard Marcel-Laurin comprising 124 housing units, is aiming for LEED for Neighbourhood Development certification. Saint-Laurent also welcomed six new single-family homes, with four of these requiring the demolition of an existing building. 

In the business category, one building was submitted to the Advisory Committee on Planning for exterior modifications. 

The Committee also expressed favourable opinions regarding one application for conditional use for office space and a special construction, modification or occupancy project (PPCMOI) with a vocation of service.

In the industrial category, the Committee approved three expansion projects and several exterior modification projects. The expansion projects involved the addition of: 

• 5252 m² at 6100, chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse;
• 2100 m² at 5637, rue Kieran;
• 1255 m² at 8205, route Transcanadienne.

Another site, located at 10000 boulevard Cavendish, called for the installation of a solar wall with the objective of reducing natural gas consumption by 35%.

Finally, the institutional category included several interesting projects, namely: 

• the construction of a new childcare centre on the Vanier College property;
• the redevelopment of the back yard at École Édouard-Laurin;
• the relocation of Cégep de Saint-Laurent’s Aile B in the building formerly occupied by the National Film Board of Canada.

Committee composition 

In 2024, the Advisory Committee on Planning was composed of the following members:

• Annie Gagnier, City Councillor and Committee Chair
• Vana Nazarian, City Councillor and Committee Vice-Chair
• Suzane Lasnier, citizen
• Andreas Dimakopoulos, citizen
• Mireille Shebib-Aubé, citizen
• Rita Ghoche, citizen

Antoine Saint-Laurent, head of the Division de l’urbanisme, held the position of secretary of the Advisory Committee on Planning. He was supported by other division members: Kenza Diboune, team lead; Snejana Stratieva, urban planning technical advisor; Yves Dandurand, research analyst; and Catherine Caya, landscape architect.