Montreal claims new right to pre-empt land for parks, libraries, arenas

The city of Montreal wants to prevent that “oops” moment when a new neighbourhood is built and it emerges that there’s no land left over for a park, a school or a community centre.

For years, residents have been asking that major housing projects include public amenities like schools, libraries and green space.

On Thursday, Éric Alan Caldwell, the executive committee member responsible for urban planning, said the city is adopting a legislative tool that will allow it to preempt land for public use.

The power to do so was included in a provincial bill passed last year that awarded the city metropolis status.

In addition to new powers — control over bar and store hours, housing, health, the homeless and the integration of immigrants — Bill 121 enables Montreal to match purchase offers on land needed for community purposes like roads, parks and sports facilities.

Caldwell said city council will adopt a bylaw enshrining the right of pre-emption at its monthly meeting next week.

The city will apply the measure to nine areas slated for major housing projects:

Blue Bonnets site at Décarie ■

Blvd. and Namur St.

northern Nuns’ Island Louvain St. E. between StHubert ■ and Christophe-Colomb Sts.

Assomption Blvd. east of the ■

Olympic Stadium

Bellechasse St. sector in Rosemont ■

La-Petite-Patrie

■

Beside railway tracks in the eastern ■ Plateau and Rosemont

Havre-Bridge St.-Wellington St. ■ sector in Pointe- St-Charles

a project around the future ■

Anjou and Langelier stations on the métro’s Blue Line

The measure will allow the city to identify properties that could be needed for civil purposes. Unlike existing measures, like placing a reserve on a property or expropriation, pre-emption does not prevent owners from altering their property and does not force them to sell.

In the eventuality that the property is put on the market the city would have 60 days to match an offer on it.

“We want to seize every oppor- tunity that will allow us to revitalize these sectors to offer services that respond to the aspirations and needs of families,” Caldwell said at a press conference at city hall.

André Boisclair, president and CEO of the Urban development institute of Québec (UDI), said developers understand the reasons for the right of pre-emption and generally support it. “The industry recognizes its merit,” he said.