Public Consultation on the Redevelopment of the Benny Farm Site

Montréal, October 30, 2003 – On November 10, l’Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) will hold a public consultation on the redevelopment project of the Benny Farm site, in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.

Located on each side of Cavendish Boulevard between Sherbrooke Street and Monkland Avenue, the residential complex of Benny Farm will be the object of a major redevelopment. Filed by the Société immobilière du Canada (S.I.C.), the project includes the demolition of several components of the existing residential complex, the construction and renovation of more than 500 dwelling units, the development of community facilities such as a CLSC and a sports and community centre, including a day care centre along Monkland Avenue, facing Benny Park.

DRAFT BY-LAWS
Before authorizing the project filed by the S.I.C., the City of Montréal must first amend the urban plan and adopt a draft by-law authorizing the alteration, construction, demolition and occupancy of immovables on the site. The consultation to be held by the OCPM starting on November 10, regards two draft by-laws that were adopted at the Montréal city council meeting of September 22, 2003.

The first draft by-law amends the urban plan of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough as follows:

by replacing part of the “Habitation” land use area on the south side of Monkland Avenue, between Cavendish Boulevard and Benny Avenue, by the “Équipement collectif et institutionnel” land use area. The amendment is required to allow the development of the Centre local de services communautaires Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Montréal-Ouest (CLSC), and a sports and community centre, including a day care centre;
by identifying, on the plan of height and density limits, the “Équipement collectif et institutionnel” land use area along Monkland Avenue, by increasing the maximum density from 2 to 3.5 for the rest of the Benny Farm site.

The second draft by-law authorizes departures from various urban planning by-law provisions on the Benny Farm site.

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
The meeting will be conducted in two parts as follows:

Description and explanation of the draft by-laws, followed by a question period
Session where individuals and organizations can express their opinions and views on the project.

All persons and organizations concerned are invited by the OCPM to attend the first part of the meeting to be held on Monday, November 10, 2003, at 7 p.m., at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West.

The second part of the meeting regarding opinions and views will be held on December 1, 2003, at 7 p.m., at Anne-Hébert School, 6310 Somerled Avenue.

All persons and organizations wishing to present a brief in the second part of the meeting must send it before Wednesday, November 26, 2003, at 4 p.m., in 15 printed copies and by e-mail to Marie- Claire Dumas at mdumas@ville.montreal.qc.ca.

BACKGROUND MATERIAL
The draft by-laws and background material may be consulted at the following places, during regular office hours:

Côte-des-Neiges / Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough office, 5160 Décarie Boulevard, 6th floor
Benny Library, 3465 Benny Avenue
Direction du greffe de la Ville de Montréal, 275 Notre-Dame Street East, Ground Floor
Office de consultation publique de Montréal, 1550 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1414 and on its Website: www.ocpm.qc.ca.

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Jean-François Viau
President of l’Office de consultation publique de Montréal
Tel.: (514) 872-3568