Summary#
Montréal city council gave notice of a proposed bylaw called Règlement sur la fermeture d'une ruelle située au nord-est de la 18 Avenue entre la rue Ontario Est et la rue De Montigny, dans l'arrondissement de Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, aux fins de transfert aux propriétaires riverains (bylaw to close an alley for transfer to neighbouring owners). The bylaw is not adopted; the notice means council plans to vote on it at a later meeting.
- If adopted, the bylaw would close the alley and transfer the land to the owners of properties next to it, at no charge.
- The proposed transfer covers lots 6 724 653 to 6 724 667 in Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles.
- It would also create an easement (a legal right to use land for a specific purpose) for telecommunications and energy distribution on parts of the lots, to protect those installations.
- City staff say more than two-thirds of neighbouring owners, representing more than two-thirds of the land frontage along the alley, supported the proposal.
What it means for you#
- Owners next to the alley: The proposed bylaw would allow the land to be transferred to neighbouring owners, but it does not say how the lots would be divided among them. The transfer has not happened.
- Other residents: The proposal would close a public alley that staff say is not needed for access or rear service to nearby buildings. The materials do not explain what public access, if any, people currently use it for.
- City: If the bylaw is not adopted, staff say the city would keep managing and taking responsibility for the alley.
Money#
The proposed transfer would be free, but no cost estimate or expected tax revenue is provided.
- City staff say the transferred lots would generate property tax revenue for the city; the amount is not stated.
- No publicly available information on other costs of the transfer or easement.
What is unclear#
- The bylaw has not been adopted, so whether the closure and transfers will proceed is not yet known.
- No publicly available information on how each neighbouring owner’s share of the land would be determined.
- The materials do not explain how the easement would affect use of the lots or the location and operation of the protected installations.
- No publicly available information on the amount of future property tax revenue.
Case for#
- City staff say the alley is not essential for access or rear service to nearby buildings, so keeping it as public land may not serve a continuing need.
- The proposal would transfer responsibility for the land to neighbouring owners, while an easement would protect telecommunications and energy installations.
- Staff report that the required level of support among neighbouring owners was reached.
Case against#
- Closing the alley would remove it from public use and transfer public land to private owners; the materials do not explain how any current public use would be addressed.
- The transfer is free, while the amount of future property tax revenue is unknown.
- The proposal does not explain how the land would be divided among the owners or what limits the easement would place on their use.