The city of Lachute is proceeding with plans to use pre-emption and expropriation if necessary to acquire more land for public facilities.
On February 3, council adopted a regulation allowing capital expenditures and a loan of up to $6 million for the acquisition of buildings subject to the right of pre-emption and to allow for their acquisition by mutual agreement or by expropriation.
The process of introducing and adopting the regulation began on September 3, 2024.
The right of pre-emption allows the city of Lachute to purchase, in priority over any other buyer, certain buildings or land in order to carry out projects for the benefit of the population, for a period of 10 years. The land or buildings in question could be used for municipal purposes, in particular for sports centres, parks, social and affordable housing, or protecting heritage, the environment and natural areas. These acquisitions could also be used for institutional purposes such as the new schools or public long-term care facilities.
Although the city does not plan any acquisitions in the short term, certain strategic locations have already been identified to be subject to the right of pre-emption. A resolution will follow at the October 7 city council meeting and will identify the targeted locations. Once adopted and entered into force, the borrowing by-law will allow the city to hold the necessary liquidity to exercise its right of pre-emption, considering that following receipt of a notice of intention from an owner to sell their subject building or land, it has a period of 60 days to acquire at the price and under the conditions of the potential buyer’s purchase offer. The borrowing regulation only constitutes a possibility of using funds, but as long as the city does not proceed with the purchase of a building or land subject to the right of pre-emption, no amount will be committed, and no repayment of the loan will be necessary.
Any property owners affected by this measure will receive a letter containing all the important details. Information meetings are also planned between the city and certain owners of targeted buildings or land. In addition, the owners concerned will receive, where applicable, a copy of the notice of subjection that identifies the buildings or land affected and describes the purposes for which they could be acquired.
