By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
At its monthly meeting held April 1 at the town hall, Hatley Township council addressed a wide-ranging agenda in the absence of Mayor Vincent Fontaine, who was off sick. Councillor Jacques Bogenez presided over the meeting, which drew approximately eight residents and touched on zoning, waste management, cultural planning and infrastructure challenges.
Zoning changes open door to new commerce
Two significant zoning amendments were passed to allow more commercial activity near Highway 410 and in the EX4 zone, close to local quarry operations.
Council adopted a bylaw modifying the zoning plan to allow light commercial activity along the highway corridor. “We’ve been trying for a long time to diversify permitted uses in that area,” said a councillor. “We’re not talking about disruptive businesses—just some small commercial options.” After years of opposition from the MRC, the municipality can now move forward with limited commercial development.
A second bylaw focused on conditional uses in the quarry-adjacent zone. It introduces criteria-based conditions that would allow certain commercial projects, provided they are compatible with the surrounding environment and land-use constraints.
$1.67 million landfill expansion approved
Council gave its approval to a $1.67 million investment in expanding part of the regional technical landfill in Coaticook. The project is overseen by the intermunicipal waste management board, of which Hatley is one of 22 member municipalities.
“This new cell has to be built with membranes and drainage systems to prevent water from seeping into groundwater or nearby streams,” explained one councillor. “It’s costly—much more than what citizens are charged in fees.”
Although Hatley’s share is relatively small compared to larger municipalities, elected officials acknowledged the challenge of being tied to group decisions. “Politically, it’s not easy being part of a million-and-a-half-dollar borrowing plan, but this is a collective responsibility,” said one councillor.
