A statement issued late last week by Metro Inc., owner of the 5 Saisons chain, said discussions between Metro, Ramco Development and Westmount in recent weeks were very productive. The parties have agreed to evaluate different options to integrate a new 5 Saisons store in the proposed future Ramco development.

“We are very confident that our future project, once approved by the City will be a positive addition to Greene Avenue and will bring substantial benefits to Westmount, its residents, business owners and visitors,” said Jacob Attias, Ramco’s president.

Attias said plans for the site call for a mixed commercial/residential project, although he would not be more specific as everything is currently under discussion. “Hopefully it will be residential above — a mixed use — commercial and residential. That is about all I can say.

“It’s with the City and it has to go through the various committees before we can speak openly about it. After that, we’ll have a much clearer idea of what the City is comfortable with and what we’re comfortable with … If it’s approved it will be an excellent addition to the streetscape of Greene Avenue.”

“What we’re trying to do is to assure that the 5 Saisons can remain in the redevelopment," said Mayor Peter Trent. "It’s important that we ensure that 5 Saisons can remain forever and a day.” He added that the City now has about six months to work out the project’s details.

“The redevelopment that we are working on with Mr. Attias obviously has to incorporate 5 Saisons and it probably will require a zoning change. Until that’s done, the fate of 5 Saisons is still not completely sorted out. But I suspect that we can go ahead with a zoning change that allows a relatively small change in zoning to permit Mr. Attias to do what he wants.”