Royalmount project remains controversial ahead of next election – Montreal | The Canadian News

Work on Royalmount’s commercial project in the city of Mount Royal continues, but it is also causing deep divisions among political candidates seeking mayor, as well as city residents.

Entrepreneur Peter Malouf opposes any re-zoning to allow the construction of a residential project with the commercial one currently under construction.

“Residential does not belong to Royalmount,” Malouf, one of the mayoral candidates, told Global News.

Malouf says that the area where Royalmount is being built, on the southeast corner of the Metropolitan and Decarie freeways, is zoned for commercial and industrial use only and that adding a residential component would lead to a tremendous increase in vehicle traffic in a area that is already very congested.

His opponent, Councilwoman Michelle Setlakwe, argues that she would put a zoning change to a referendum.

“The residents need to be heard. We have to make a decision with the neighbors about a project of this magnitude, “he said.

TO Leger survey Since last July, a small majority of residents, 51 percent, have opposed adding a residential component to the commercial project.

Almost 22,000 people live in the city of Mount Royal, of which 14,000 have the right to vote.

There are other issues the two candidates remain divided on, such as the future of a state-of-the-art sports complex and how best to mitigate traffic in the area.

Both candidates maintain that they are the best person to be voted as mayor.

“I love my role as an elected official and I am ready to do it full time as mayor,” Setlakwe said.

“I think it is really important that we protect our garden city as it was conceived, it is so valuable. It’s unique, ”Malouf said.

Voters will finally decide who will be the next mayor on Election Day, November 7.

1:44Real estate developer presents a shortened version of Royalmount’s proposed project