By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
On Dec. 10, the Village of North Hatley held a public consultation meeting at Sainte-Élisabeth Church to address proposed zoning changes in the C-4 zone. Councillor Andrew Pelletier, in a Dec. 11 interview, outlined the process while deferring specific commentary, emphasizing the ongoing nature of deliberations.
The proposed amendments, detailed in public notices issued by the municipality on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, include removing single- and two-family homes, motels, and religious establishments from permissible uses. Instead, they introduce multi-family dwellings (with 8 to 24 units per building), commercial spaces, and increased building heights, from 10 metres to 15 metres. These changes aim to accommodate a prospective project in the C-4 zone, which includes properties like the Pilsen and the old Grist Mill building.
“We collected all kinds of information,” Pelletier said of the Dec. 10 meeting, which included a presentation by municipal officials and drew about 20 attendees. According to Pelletier, the consultation primarily focused on the rationale behind the zoning amendments and allowed residents to voice their concerns. He added that the feedback gathered will be reviewed at a Jan. 13 council meeting.
The village’s ongoing master plan process, supported by an anonymous donor, was a recurring theme at the meeting, according to Pelletier and the Dec. 10 notice. Residents questioned why zoning changes were being considered ahead of the plan’s completion, expected in late summer 2025. “A lot of people said, look, you guys are doing the master plan, so why are you doing this sort of thing?” Pelletier explained.
The Dec. 10 public notice highlighted the master plan’s timeline, with consultations set to begin in early 2025 and final adoption anticipated in September. It also clarified that the zoning changes align with the village’s vision of creating a denser, mixed-use core while addressing the need for rental housing.
Pelletier, however, was tight-lipped about specific discussions from the meeting, citing respect for council processes. “We can’t really talk about the project until we get the zoning change,” he said. He encouraged residents to attend the January meeting, where more concrete details will be addressed.
