The CDN-NDG borough council adopted a motion approving support for the extension of Cavendish Blvd. after an uneasy debate at the end of its March 3 meeting.
Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand moved the motion in an attempt to avoid having the borough lose the extension project retained as the best solution in studies undertaken between 2005 and 2007: the direct linking of the two parts of Cavendish.
Since mayor Russell Copeman voted yes the motion was carried 3-3, with councillors Searle, McQueen and Popeanu against, and councillors Rotrand and Perez and the mayor in favour. The vote was preceded by a lengthy debate on issues like: constructing roads in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, reducing the importance of the car in the Hippodrome project, and the linking of Decarie and Cavendish boulevards.
After the debate reached an impasse and the vote was about to be taken, Copeman called a five-minute pause. He talked with councillors outside of the room, answering their questions and attempting to help Côte-des-Neiges councillor Magda Popeanu overcome her doubts and come to a decision.
According to council documents, the City of Montreal has to update the Sept. 28, 2007 plan advanced by the Roche Génivar consortium in order to consider the new context: the development
of the Hippodrome site and other important projects for the sector, the Decarie Expressway’s traffic capacity, and the conditions of the transfer of the former Blue Bonnets site from the provincial government to the city.
A sum of $44 million for the Hippodrome project is included in the Montreal Agglomeration’s major projects program after the Quebec government ceded the site to the City of Montreal.
