Construction site at 150 & 170 chemin Desmarais: On the right, No. 150 is classified as “2.0 stories” by the Ville. On the left, at No. 170, the Ville authorized a “2.0-story” building with a permitted height of 48 feet, which received a “Renovation” permit in July 2026 despite the unfinished state of the work. (Photo: Martin Chevalier, Le Journal de Montréal)
In brief: On September 11, Les Amis wrote to Mayor Pascal De Bellefeuille and senior city management demanding answers regarding the Pura Vida commercial project (150 & 170 chemin Desmarais). Documents obtained through access to information reveal that 10 permits have been issued since 2021 for this file, which raises major zoning issues. Despite a deadline of September 25 given to provide an explanation, no response had been received at the time of publication.
The issues: Initially approved as single-family homes, these sites were converted into commercial establishments featuring 12 rooms financed by $8.5M in loans from Investissement Québec (according to La Presse). Official permits reveal major anomalies:
36-month legal limit exceeded: Section 98 of By-law (2008)-101 limits validity to 36 months. However, the permits extend until summer 2027—authorizing nearly 6 years of continuous construction.
Height limits: Although the permit indicates “2.0 stories,” No. 170 (a 16,577 sq. ft. building) authorizes a height of 48 feet, while No. 150 (a 19,455 sq. ft. building) appears to feature at least 5 stories.
Administrative irregularities: On June 16, we reported to the Ville and the Régie du bâtiment du Québec that work at No. 150 was continuing without a valid permit (which had expired on April 1). The very next day, a new “Renovation” permit with a declared value of $250,000 was issued. At No. 170, a “Renovation” permit with a declared value of $6M was issued on July 14 to complete an unfinished structure that was never occupied—in violation of rules that reserve renovations for completed buildings.
Our position: By-laws are not optional.
Systemic flaw: This reaches beyond District 1; lacking a permanent urban planning director since May 16, 2025, these unchecked practices put the other 7 districts of Mont-Tremblant at risk.
Required action: The Ville must freeze construction at No. 170 immediately to confirm the permit’s validity and avoid another fait accompli like No. 150.
The goal: Restoring rigorous, equitable, and transparent governance to municipal planning.
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.