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The Urban Planning department is continually working on informing residents on many key issues. The following documents were designed to assist you. Contact the Urban Planning Department for any questions.
Electrical lighting is part of city life. Excessive lighting, however, can lead to a number of negative effects.
More light is produced per capita in Quebec than anywhere in the world. Better use of light could save millions of dollars per year and reduce our carbon footprint.
Bright light that spills onto other property is a public nuisance and an energy waste. In addition, exposure to excessive light at night disturbs sleep patterns and natural cycles in people, in animals and in birds, affecting overall health.
Evenly-spaced light sources that provide a uniform, low level of illumination are proven to be more effective in deterring intruders and making public spaces safer.
Sky glow is not just a problem for astronomers; it also prevents city dwellers from enjoying a beautiful night sky and nocturnal landscapes. Light pollution has increased very rapidly in the last few decades.
In Westmount, light that washes across a building’s facade is prohibited. Consult the City’s Landscape design Guideline, section 5.5.9.6.
The City of Westmount is doing its part to reduce light pollution by using street lamps that allows only 2% of its light to shine above the horizon.
By reducing light pollution, we:
The hydrological cycle is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again. The construction of homes, extensions and roadways converts porous terrain into impervious surfaces, altering the natural hydrological cycle. The increased volume and flow rate of uncontrolled runoff can lead to groundwater pollution and property damage due to flooding and erosion.
In Westmount, stormwater and wastewater are combined into a single system. Increased runoff can lead to sewer overflows and an overtaxing of wastewater treatment facilities. When rainwater flow surpasses the municipal system’s capacity, local buildings are flooded.
Citizens applying for construction permits for new buildings, major additions and landscaping will be required to submit a stormwater management strategy which demonstrates that post-construction runoff will not exceed pre-construction levels.
Green roofs absorb rainwater, provide insulation and help lower urban air temperatures. Before creating a green roof on an existing building, the structure must be evaluated by a qualified engineer to ensure that it can support the additional weight.
The most effective way to control stormwater runoff is to create and maintain permeable surfaces as close as possible to the source. Porous surfaces trap suspended solids and filter pollutants. Effective choices for driveways, walkways and patios include pervious concrete, porous asphalt, paving stones or concrete pavers.
Vegetated swales are sloped, low-lying areas designed to capture and treat storm water. The swales collect stormwater runoff and allow it to soak into the ground at a slower rate. Specialized native plants help treat the stormwater by absorbing pollutants and filtering suspended solids.
A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from downspouts and rooftops for future use watering lawns and gardens. During summer months, nearly 40% of domestic water is used for garden maintenance. Rain is naturally soft and devoid of harmful chemicals. Call 514 989-5390 to learn about the City’s rain barrel rebate programme.
Do you really need such large floor areas in kitchens, bathrooms or entrance halls? Appreciate your green space: will an addition be a detriment to the enjoyment of your garden?
Never dig or authorize any excavation on your property, no matter how small, until you have obtained the location of underground installations through Info-Excavation. The Info-Excavation service is provided free of charge throughout Québec and covers all underground facilities (electric, telephone, natural gas, cable TV and others). 1 800 ON-EXCAVE (1 800 663-9228).
Allow 72 hours from the time you contact Info-Excavation with your locating request so that each utility can plan and schedule the personnel needed to provide you with the best possible service. Note that any pipeline crossover requires three business days’ advance notice and a written authorization from the company that operates the pipeline in question.