By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
At North Hatley’s April 7 council meeting, Mayor Marcella Davis-Gerrish and councillors addressed a range of local concerns including a new housing development, lake access fees, noise complaints, and infrastructure funding. The meeting, which lasted approximately 50 minutes, drew about 10 residents to the municipal hall and ended with a public question period that touched on several high-interest topics.
New condo-commercial development gets green light
Council unanimously approved a new multi-use construction project at 225–233 rue Main. The proposal includes 22 residential condominiums and commercial space on the ground floor, with indoor parking located at ground level rather than underground. The project was reviewed by the Comité consultatif d’urbanisme (CCU) and includes a full landscaping plan.
“These are condos for sale,” the mayor confirmed. “No underground parking. There are 22 indoor spots and an additional buffer of parking on the adjacent lot so residents won’t take over the municipal lot”. Council members said the developer hopes to begin construction as early as June.
Non-resident lake access fees stir debate
One of the most discussed items came during the public question period, as residents raised concerns about the new seasonal access fees for non-residents using Lake Massawippi.
The adopted rate for full-season motorized boat access for non-residents is a total of $450. However, Mayor Davis-Gerrish explained that neighbouring municipalities within the Parc régional Massawippi are charging even more—up to $575.
“That’s for people coming from places like Montreal for the weekend,” she said. “Here, we’ve kept it at $450, which helps fund the lake patrol. That’s how we manage to keep resident fees lower”. She also clarified that residents from Hatley Township can still register and won’t be classified as non-residents for fee purposes.
