December 13, 2018

Plans to build a Montreal church hall trigger mixed results at consultation

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When it comes to development projects, points of view often differ wildly.

Case in point.

St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Pointe-Claire wants to demolish an abandoned school building on its property and build a church hall with underground parking.

Parishioners envision a hall where they can gather to share a meal after the Sunday church service and use during week nights for church-related activities and youth gatherings. Neighbours opposed to the idea see it as a colossal mistake which will negatively alter the residential feel of the community and disturb their peace by causing incessant traffic jams and wedding-reception-induced ruckus.

Church board member Shahir Guindi gave a power-point presentation about the proposed project during a filled-to-capacity public consultation at city hall last week and one of the first things he said was that there wouldn’t be any wedding receptions.

“It’s not a reception hall, it’s a church hall,” Guindi told a reporter following the presentation.

The two-storey build would be an extension of the church, with a gymnasium, an eating area with a modest stage and a view of the lake, classrooms for bible classes, a bookstore and a small chapel. The barren terrain now abutting the old school would be landscaped.

This is the second time the church has approached the city about building a hall. The first request, in 2014, was turned down. Neighbours opposed the project and the city council at the time cited the fact that the land had been flagged as an infill residential project in the city’s 2010 master plan.

This time around, prior to the public consultation at city hall, parishioners went door to door inviting neighbours to a private information session during which Guindi gave a power point presentation.

“There were questions, but we felt an enthusiasm for the project,” Guindi said of the earlier neighbourhood gathering.

The mood in council chambers was mixed, however, with two neighbours reading strident prepared statements opposing every inch of the project and demanding council adhere to the residential zoning already in place.

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