City approves land purchase for road safety

Summary#

Montréal city council adopted a decision approving an addendum to an existing purchase promise with 9519-5228 Québec inc. The City had already agreed to buy a 223-square-metre piece of land at avenue Saint-Pierre and rue Notre-Dame in Lachine; the decision approves changes to that promise and authorizes related cadastral work. City staff say the purchase supports a road-safety project.

  • The City will pay $200,000 plus applicable taxes for the land, without a legal warranty.
  • The city clerk may sign the addendum if the City’s legal department finds it substantially matches the approved terms.
  • The City authorized a $5,000 budget plus applicable taxes for a parcel plan and cadastral work. The title gives this additional expense as $5,748.75, taxes included.
  • City staff describe a related works agreement with the tenant, Groupe TDL corporation, including $166,000 plus taxes in compensation. The resolution itself does not state that amount.

What it means for you#

  • Road users in Lachine: City staff say the land is needed for the avenue Saint-Pierre redesign, which they say aims to improve safety. The decision does not itself set out the project’s full design or construction schedule.
  • The tenant’s business: Staff say construction will affect the Tim Hortons franchise operator’s business and describe compensation for lost profits and other impacts. The resolution does not set out those payment terms.
  • Taxpayers: The City is buying part of a lot from the company that owns it. The decision does not transfer the entire property.

Money#

The resolution authorizes the purchase and cadastral-work costs; city staff report a larger total for the acquisition and related tenant compensation.

  • Land: $200,000 plus applicable taxes.
  • Cadastral work: $5,000 plus applicable taxes; the title states $5,748.75, taxes included.
  • City staff report $366,000 before taxes for the land and tenant compensation together; $420,808.50 taxes included, or $384,254.25 net of tax rebates. They say the cost is funded through borrowing bylaw 19-023-1 and paid entirely by the central city.
  • Staff say a later delegated decision will cover the cost of removing, storing and moving the business sign and streetlights. No amount is given.

What is unclear#

  • The approved addendum’s full text is not supplied, so the exact changes to the existing purchase promise cannot be verified.
  • The resolution does not spell out the tenant-compensation terms, although the staff summary describes them.
  • The amount and approval process for moving the sign and streetlights are not stated.

Case for#

  • City staff say the land is needed to begin a road redesign they link to safety concerns at the intersection.
  • Staff say the purchase price matches market value.
  • Staff say the work also creates an opportunity to bury overhead electrical and communications lines.

Case against#

  • The decision does not provide the addendum’s full terms or explain how the land purchase and tenant compensation will be handled together.
  • The City is buying the land without a legal warranty, and the decision gives no further detail about what that means for the City’s risks.