Resident Philip Belec recently presented his concerns to the municipal council, denouncing the lack of clarity surrounding the nature of the project and its excessive duration. Mr. Belec highlighted that both the Ville and the owner refuse to disclose information.
This project on Chemin Desmarais, a true masterpiece of the absurd, is going through a profound identity crisis. What was authorized as a single-family home in 2021 has since morphed, with the Ville’s permission, into a commercial building located on a residential street.
Although the Ville’s most recent permits for 150 Chemin Desmarais describe a structure of “two floors,” the building boasts a colossal interior floor area of 19,455 square feet. Within these “two floors,” owner Joseph Zakher has managed to fit 12 bedrooms, an elevator, and a rooftop pool.
Since the project was approved in 2021 under the direction of Louis-Martin Levac—then the director of urban planning—his return to that same position in March 2026 makes it an ideal time for him to consider attending a council meeting to explain exactly to the citizens: (1) how the Ville considers this building as having only two floors; (2) why the owner was able to obtain a succession of construction renewals and extensions since his initial 2021 permit; and (3) how many distinct stop levels the elevator is actually designed to serve.
But wait, there’s more! The Ville has issued even more permits to Mr. Zakher to build right next door at 170 Chemin Desmarais. The most recent building permit authorizes another 12-bedroom building with another elevator. Although the structure is authorized for an interior floor area of 16,577 square feet and will reach a height of 48 feet, the Ville claims that it is, once again, only “two floors.”
About Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant
Our mandate is to ensure the harmonious real estate development of the region while maintaining transparency and community acceptability.