Busy church office violates zoning, irks Ahuntsic residents
On a leafy back street in Ahuntsic Cartierville that ends where the road meets the river, residents are growing increasingly frustrated with a busy church office they say has no right to exist in a sector zoned residential.
Neighbours complain of regular meetings that draw dozens of people, resulting in increased traffic, cars parked the length of the street sometimes blocking driveways and loud gatherings on the front steps.
The squat bungalow is listed on the city’s evaluation role as the presbytery, or official residence, of the bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Montreal, the eastern Catholic diocese for Maronite Lebanese Catholics. As a presbytery, it is considered a residence and therefore legal under local zoning regulations. Its presbytery status means it is also exempt from paying property taxes.
Since 2014, however, the home has also been listed as the address of the Corporation of the Maronite Community of Montreal. Extensive renovations after the last bishop moved out in 2012 have increased the square footage, and converted much of the interior into office space. A recent borough inspection lists four offices in the home.
Discrete home offices with a separate entrance are allowed in the sector if they belong to the person residing in the home.
Neighbours say the bishop no longer lives there, even part time.
Church officials did not return repeated requests for comment.
“At first when we saw they were in the area, I was happy about it because I was hoping to get my son involved in the church,” said Rob Macdonald, who lives directly across from the Maronite Eparchy office. “Now I’m just pissed off.”
Macdonald bought his home on Grenet Street two years ago. His teenage son wanted a quiet place to study, and Macdonald wanted a peaceful retirement spot near his ex-wife so his son could be close to his mother.
A stone’s throw from Rivièredes-Prairies, their segment of the street is zoned category H.1, which means only single-family dwellings are allowed. Duplexes and basement apartments are not permitted, to minimize traffic and keep the street quiet and familyfriendly
So Macdonald was surprised when cars began arriving at the house directly across the street from his at all hours, parking in the lengthy driveway or all the way up the street and blocking his driveway on seven separate occasions. On busy nights or weekends, as many as 30 to 40 cars would park on the street to attend meetings or social events.
There were verbal confrontations between residents and visitors over parking issues and noise. Often series of meetings would run all day, starting at 10 a.m., and ending at 10 p.m., Macdonald said.
“I wouldn’t mind if it was actually run like a home office, with a few visits here and there,” Macdonald said. “But they have turned it into a mass meeting area. They should be doing this elsewhere.”
The house had served as the presbytery for the bishop of the Maronite Church of Canada since 1986. Bishop Joseph Khoury lived there until 2012 and was considered a good, quiet neighbour.
In 2012, Khoury left and extensive renovations were carried out, including an 800-square-foot addition. Neighbours say the new bishop, Paul Marwan Tabet, does not appear to live there. His car never remains overnight.
In 2014, the church celebrated the official opening of the Maronite Eparchy on Grenet Street. Pictures of the inauguration show city councillor Aref Salem, a member of Montreal’s executive committee, the city’s highest-ranking decision-making body, taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Tabet. At his side is Maria Mourani, then the federal member of Parliament for Ahuntsic.
Along with the extension and upgrades to the interior, the church erected four lampposts to illuminate the sign in front and a concrete slab on the front lawn with brackets to hold three flagpoles. Macdonald installed a new front door and heavy curtains to block out the lights and the noise.
Macdonald had an amicable discussion with Tabet in June, he said, at which point the bishop promised things would get quieter. But the meetings persisted, Macdonald said.
He collected a petition of 50 names from neighbours. About half were upset at the increased traffic and parking. The other half were incensed that the church was being allowed to flout the city’s residential zoning bylaws, Macdonald said.
Stephanie Wright, who lives next door to the church office, described the difference since the old bishop left as “humungous” in terms of the regular coming and going. Her husband went to speak to the bishop as well, concerned about the noise and safety for their four children. Tabet said he would try to accommodate them, but nothing changed.
“It’s frustrating because this isn’t supposed to happen here,” said Wright, who bought her house 12 years ago in part because of the strict zoning laws. “But after all the renovations they’ve done, I don’t think they’re ready to say ‘OK, we’ll just use it as a house.’ ”
The borough sent inspectors to the premises in February following numerous complaints.
In a strongly worded warning sent to the Maronite corporation, Richard Blais, head of the urbanism, permits and inspections department, said the police have been warned to check for traffic and parking violations and ordered the church to no longer hold meetings there.
“Occasional visitors must respect the parking rules and the basic principles of being a good neighbour,” Blais wrote.
In April, the borough advised the Maronite corporation it did not have an occupation certificate allowing them to have a home office and told them to apply for one within 10 days. The borough is studying the application to decide if it will be accepted, spokesperson Elsie Blais said.
Harout Chitilian, city councillor for the district and the vicepresident of the city’s executive committee, said the borough’s civil services department is aware of the situation and taking care of it.
“As far as I’m concerned there is no compromise of one inch to make on the usage of that sector as residential,” he said. Recent reports from the area indicate things have improved, he said.
Macdonald said the meetings are continuing, and he doesn’t think they are going to stop unless the borough puts its foot down.
“It’s a case of ‘If you build it, they will come.’ ”