Residents near Elm Plaza do not want changes to zoning plan

By Kevin Woodhouse, September 26th, 2012

Last Monday night, Commander Sylvain Doucet of Station 1, who generally begins the Beaconsfield council meetings with an update of statistics for the previous month, spent some of his time discussing the event that occurred the night before with a discovery of an injured white male, 29 years old, who was known to police at the parking lot on Beaurepaire and Woodland.
Some citizens residing near the Beaconsfield Mall asked Doucet what to do with a regular contingent of disenfranchised youths who congregate behind the elementary school near the townhouses lighting fires, drinking alcohol and smoking drugs.  “Call 911 and we will go and see if something is wrong,” Doucet told the assembled.  “While that is not a priority call, you could get faster service if officers are not busy at that time.”
Some homeowners of Brighton and Bolton lamented the fact that their roads are being used as speedways for drivers going between Sherbrooke and Elm.  Director General Patrice Boileau suggested the residents voice their concerns to the city’s administrative body that handles circulation, the Traffic Committee.
On the topic of the city’s proposed new zoning plan, a group of citizens who live near the Elm Plaza were not supportive of the changes that could come to the mall’s zoning which would allow for the mall to be more than one storey in size.  Two residents had collected almost 100 signatures from area neighbours opposing the change.  “What is already bad would become worse,” said one resident.  “Any changes to the mall will de-value our homes.”
Citizens who have issues with the proposed zoning changes should attend a public consultation on the topic taking place at city hall on Monday, Oct. 15.n