North Hatley council reviews zoning amendments - Flood Zone

North Hatley council reviews zoning amendments

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

On Dec. 10, the Village of North Hatley held a public consultation meeting at Sainte-Élisabeth Church to address proposed zoning changes in the C-4 zone. Councillor Andrew Pelletier, in a Dec. 11 interview, outlined the process while deferring specific commentary, emphasizing the ongoing nature of deliberations.

The proposed amendments, detailed in public notices issued by the municipality on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, include removing single- and two-family homes, motels, and religious establishments from permissible uses. Instead, they introduce multi-family dwellings (with 8 to 24 units per building), commercial spaces, and increased building heights, from 10 metres to 15 metres. These changes aim to accommodate a prospective project in the C-4 zone, which includes properties like the Pilsen and the old Grist Mill building.

“We collected all kinds of information,” Pelletier said of the Dec. 10 meeting, which included a presentation by municipal officials and drew about 20 attendees. According to Pelletier, the consultation primarily focused on the rationale behind the zoning amendments and allowed residents to voice their concerns. He added that the feedback gathered will be reviewed at a Jan. 13 council meeting.

The village’s ongoing master plan process, supported by an anonymous donor, was a recurring theme at the meeting, according to Pelletier and the Dec. 10 notice. Residents questioned why zoning changes were being considered ahead of the plan’s completion, expected in late summer 2025. “A lot of people said, look, you guys are doing the master plan, so why are you doing this sort of thing?” Pelletier explained.

The Dec. 10 public notice highlighted the master plan’s timeline, with consultations set to begin in early 2025 and final adoption anticipated in September. It also clarified that the zoning changes align with the village’s vision of creating a denser, mixed-use core while addressing the need for rental housing.

Pelletier, however, was tight-lipped about specific discussions from the meeting, citing respect for council processes. “We can’t really talk about the project until we get the zoning change,” he said. He encouraged residents to attend the January meeting, where more concrete details will be addressed.

Hobart Race, Vendee Globe news, Mini Globe Race

Triumph and tragedies in the Sydney Hobart Race, Vendee Globe news, Mini Globe Race

by David Schmidt 31 Dec 2024 11:00 ESTDecember 31, 2024

 Celestial V70 - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Tattersall Cup © Carlo Borlenghi / ROLEX

Looking back, 2024 has been year that can be metaphorically bookended by mighty Ultims and tiny Alma Globe 5.80s. This year of "an embarrassment of riches" began on Sunday, January 7 with the start of the Arkea Ultim Challenge, which saw Ultim-sized trimarans (read 105-footers) race singlehanded around the world, and it's ending with the December 28 start of the Mini Globe Race 2025, which is seeing a fleet of 19-foot Alma Globe 5.8s race singlehanded around the world.

In between, the sailing world got to enjoy the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 37th America's Cup, and the start (and most of the Southern Ocean section) of the ongoing Vendée Globe, plus a host of other high-level events.

 Read More

SpaceX faces opposition to Starlink expansion from Ukrainian group concerned about Musk ties to Russia

SpaceX faces opposition to Starlink expansion from Ukrainian group concerned about Musk ties to RussiaA non-profit group representing Americans of Ukrainian descent asked the FCC to deny SpaceX authorization to put almost 22,500 satellites into low-earth orbit at least until further review. The satellites would allow SpaceX to provide internet services to more users around the world via its Starlink division. “There is a necessity to determine if Starlink has been used to help a foreign adversary,” Michael Sawkiw, Jr., president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, told CNBC.

LawConnect clear Line Honours victor

 

• 28 Dec, 2024 03:23:00 AM

LawConnect clear Line Honours victor

Christian Beck has defied the pundits, his 100 footer, LawConnect, pulling off Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for a second year running, crossing the finish line at Castray Esplanade in Hobart early this morning at 02.35.13, in the time of 01 day 13 hours 35 minutes 13 seconds.

LawConnect’s finish time was 4hrs 19mins 49secs outside the race record of 01 day 09 hours 15 minutes 24 seconds set by LDV Comanche in 2017 in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) 628 nautical mile race. This is her third Line Honours victory – her first was as Perpetual LOYAL in 2016 when the now 16-year-old broke the race record.

Unlike last year’s thriller which saw LawConnect and the John Winning Jr’s Andoo Comanche go head-to-head with the former coming out on top by 51 seconds, Beck’s yacht had the Derwent to herself after Master Lock Comanche damaged her mainsail yesterday, forcing her out of the race.

Late last night, at 11.10pm, Race Liaison advised that LawConnect had rounded Tasman Island, when her navigator, Christopher Lewis, gave an ETA at the finish line of 02.45am this morning.

On board were all but one of last year’s victorious sailing crew along with Beck’s usual few from his business, each given the priceless opportunity of taking part in one of Australia’s greatest sporting events.

Celestial V70, the Volvo Open 70, better known as Willow and chartered by CYCA Commodore, Sam Haynes, is the next yacht due over the line. The 70 footer, tailor made for the conditions in this race, was just over 20 nautical miles behind LawConnect when the latter crossed the finish line.

Celestial V70 is also the current overall leader of the race, with LawConnect sitting in second place. Grant Wharington’s 100 footer, Wild Thing 100, with her short rig, is the third boat due into Hobart where the crowds are gathered on the water and ashore. The Queensland yacht is presently placed third overall.

Monaco unveils its groundbreaking €2 billion floating eco-district

Monaco unveils its groundbreaking €2 billion floating eco-district

In the heart of Monaco’s coastline, a new vision of urban development has come to life. Dubbed the Mareterra project, this floating eco-district was officially completed this month, setting an unprecedented global benchmark. Built entirely on "land" reclaimed from the sea to create new territory for development, this urban expansion adds six hectares (about 15 acres or 3% of Monaco’s total land area), seamlessly blending environmental stewardship with architectural sophistication.

Yoann Richomme is new Vendee Globe leader

Yoann Richomme is new Vendee Globe leader

After leading on December 1st Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) gave up many miles when he elected to sail north out of the track of a big Indian Ocean depression on December 2nd. Four days later he was 540 miles behind Dalin but Richomme’s recovery is complete this morning.

There is less than 50 miles between the top three contenders, Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) doing a remarkable job hanging on with no starboard foil.

Behind them the regrouping promises an utterly engaging second half of the race. There are just 14 miles between Nico Lunven (HOLCIM PRB), Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) and Jérémie Beyou (Charal) in sixth.

And behind them 80 miles between the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe champion Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V) and Briton Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE).

And Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) continues a recovery which almost matches Richomme’s as he launches himself back into the top ten, ninth this morning as this group make the most of the fast, windy conditions.

Most Audacious Watch of the Year

 

How Sylvain Berneron Created the Most Audacious Watch of the Year

The independent watchmaker took home a GPHG award for his unusually shaped Mirage timepiece.

Earlier this month, at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva, a.k.a. the Oscars of watchmaking, Sylvain Berneron stood on stage at the Théâtre du Léman before a crowd of some 1,400 people and accepted the Audacity Prize for his Mirage timepiece, a sublime example of shaped watchmaking that he spent nearly $900,000 of his own money to develop.

 
In his acceptance speech, Berneron, an industrial designer who’d worked at Breitling for five years before pursuing his own endeavor, remarked on the perseverance the project required and the risks he took to bring the Mirage to market.
 
“There is a real form of self-endangerment which is the foundation of artistic art,” he said. “I would also like to thank my team with whom I work. I was able to start by surrounding myself with their courage.”
 
On the morning after the awards, I met Berneron and his wife, Marie-Alix, for breakfast at the Beau Rivage hotel on Geneva’s lakefront, where he told me about the journey to making the original 38 mm Mirage as well as the smaller 34 mm stone-dial version he introduced at Geneva Watch Days in late August. He kicked off the conversation with a potent anecdote about how, in the earliest stage of his work on the Mirage, a supplier who also happened to be a friend tried to talk him out of making the timepiece, implying that carrying on with his plan would be akin to professional suicide. That Berneron defied the warning and instead committed himself entirely to the project seems like the very essence of audacity. Below, he talks about why he thinks making art requires some “personal endangerment,” how the Mirage is like “an offering to God,” and what collectors and fans of his work can look forward to seeing from Berneron in 2025.