Proposed expansion of Coptic church triggers referendum

A referendum will be held on the expansion of St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Pointe-Claire.

Earlier this year, opponents of a plan to build a church hall for the 400-strong congregation requested a register. A minimum of 30 signatures from the 187 eligible voters in the four contiguous zones were required. The register collected 37 signatures.

A bit of background.

In 2013, the Coptic orthodox church purchased a vacated Catholic church as well as an adjacent, also vacated, school facility. In 2014, the church submitted a plan to the city to build a church hall, but the plan was rejected because the land to be used had been flagged for residential development in the city’s 2010 master plan. There was also pushback in the neighbourhood.

A second plan for a church hall was recently submitted for consideration. The second plan took into account the concerns voiced about the original design. The two-storey hall would be attached to the church and would have classrooms for Bible study, a gym for youth activities, a dining hall for post-Sunday-service lunch gatherings, a modest stage, a chapel and a book store. And because neighbours were concerned about a parking crunch, underground parking would be built.

The new design did not win over opponents. Traffic circulation was the biggest worry. They wanted single-family homes. Because a zoning amendment was required for the construction, residents were within their rights to request a register.

Citizens requesting a register is not uncommon. But in most cases, if a register is requested and the minimum-required signatures are collected, the municipality in question will drop the zoning amendment instead of holding a referendum, which can cost up to $60,000.

In this case, Pointe-Claire has decided to move forward with the referendum.

“The affected area is small, which affects the price,” Mayor John Belvedere said. “The referendum will cost around $12,000.”

Belvedere said that everybody in the eligible voting zones had a right to be heard.

“Thirty-seven people showed up and signed a register opposing

Those who are really against it can vote and those who are really for it can vote.

the project,” Belvedere said. “The referendum vote is a clear, fair, democratic process. Those who are really against it can vote and those who are really for it can vote.”

As is required by law, an announcement about the referendum will be published Feb. 20.

Only residents in the four contiguous zones are allowed to vote in the referendum. At this point, 187 residents are eligible to vote, but people new to the contiguous zones who are not yet registered on the official voters’ list may do so in mid-March.

Advance voting may be done at city hall, 451 Blvd. St-Jean, March 31 from noon to 8 p.m.

The referendum will take place at city hall, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.