Nuisances

It is common for different uses to coexist in the same area or in adjacent zones of an urban environment: this is the case when shops, factories, schools, or places of worship are located near residences. This mix of uses can lead to problems with cohabitation.

Our office often examines complaints from citizens who are upset about nuisances in their neighbourhood: noise, odours, uncleanliness, overly bright lighting, excessive traffic, and more. These complaints may require complex interventions that involve the collaboration of several stakeholders (the City, citizens, businesses, or others) who must be encouraged to come together to seek solutions and implement measures to correct or mitigate the situation.

We play an essential role in analyzing, co-ordinating and mediating these cases and often conduct regular follow-ups to ensure that the chosen solutions are implemented and that the situations improve.

Sometimes it is necessary to manage citizens’ expectations. For example, when a particular use is permissable (e.g., commercial or industrial), we work with the aim of mitigating the nuisances rather than preventing the use. Our intervention generally makes it possible to implement solutions that, while not necessarily perfect, can significantly improve citizens’ quality of life.

Here are examples of situations in which we can intervene:

• Supervising waste management (garbage, recycling, food waste from businesses or residential buildings);
• Reducing noise nuisances from businesses, schools, parks, arenas, and so on, due to unauthorized use; 
• Revising the schedule for lighting at municipal facilities that may be causing excessive glare.