Rendering Plants in Urban Areas
O.C. 989-2024, enacted on June 19, 2024, establishes a special planning zone in Ville de Montréal to facilitate the development and continued operation of a rendering plant located in the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough. This initiative, guided by sections 158 and 159 of the Act respecting land use planning and development, aims to address urgent environmental and developmental issues linked to the rendering industry, which plays a critical role in Québec’s agrifood sector and waste management. The order recognizes the importance of the rendering plant for the local economy and public health, as its closure could severely impact the agrifood industry. The government asserts that alternative disposal methods pose significant public health and environmental risks, highlighting the necessity of this rendering facility.
The primary objectives of the special planning zone are twofold: to safeguard public health by preventing the negative consequences of the plant’s closure and to ensure the efficient management of inedible meats in Québec. The order aims to allow for immediate developments and installations necessary for bringing the plant into compliance with environmental regulations, particularly concerning atmospheric emissions and wastewater treatment.
Within the designated special planning zone, several specific land use and development controls are imposed. Notably, only two main buildings are permitted on certain lots, designated for the main industrial use of processing animal matter for extracting fats, oils, and other products, along with an office building. Extensions of these buildings are regulated, with limits on the size of expansions and restrictions on construction in designated areas. Other permitted constructions include complementary buildings for housing trucks and trailers, a water treatment plant, and a truck scale for accessing animal raw materials. The order also allows the transit of raw materials through specified lots and the development of outdoor parking areas.
To maintain environmental integrity, the order imposes strict planning standards. These include requirements for impermeable surfaces for heavy vehicle circulation, the replacement of removed landscaping, and the creation of vegetative buffers with specific tree compositions. Furthermore, buildings must not have openings on designated avenues, and the landscaping adjacent to certain lots must be improved with green spaces and trees. The order outlines additional provisions for urban planning, allowing for certain deviations from established setbacks and zoning regulations under specific circumstances. Moreover, it permits the demolition of certain identified buildings, streamlining processes while maintaining regulatory compliance.
By establishing a special planning zone, the government seeks to balance the operational needs of the rendering industry with the imperatives of public health and environmental sustainability, thereby ensuring the ongoing viability of an essential sector within Québec’s agrifood industry.
Quebec (OC 989-2024) July 3, 2024