Residents held a mock funeral for Griffintown on Sunday. (Photo submitted by Julie Bélanger)

A Montreal councillor is asking for more time to review the city's new plans for Griffintown, where a $1.3-billion development project is in the works.

The revised urban plan, modified earlier this month to include "green" features, will be submitted to city hall Monday night for council approval.

Critics have pressed the city to take a few more weeks to review the project, which would see most of Griffintown demolished and replaced by a commercial shopping complex with residential condominium buildings.

Given the project's scale, Montreal can afford to take a month to talk it over, said Coun. Marvin Rotrand, who plans to introduce a motion to delay the vote.

The $1.3-billion plan is the largest single investment in Montreal since Place Ville-Marie was built and everyone deserves a chance to review and discuss the plans, he said.

Private developer Devimco adjusted its proposal for the semi-industrial neighbourhood after a series of public hearings was held over the winter.

It agreed to invest an additional $40 million to build a park, green roofs on commercial buildings, and to reduce the number of parking spaces. Devimco also agreed to contribute more money towards a tramway line.

The changes significantly alter the area's urban plan and city council needs more information before it can make an informed decision, Rotrand said. "The actual version of the project is different than last week's, which is different from the one last month," he said.

City councillors received a summary of the deal Montreal struck with Devimco but Rotrand said he needs more information.

Griffintown residents mourn lack of vision

Other opponents of the project are also calling for more time to review the modified Griffintown project.

About 100 people took part in a mock funeral Sunday afternoon to draw attention to their concerns about Devimco's plans for the Irish district.

"Mourners" dressed in sombre suits carried a mock coffin, symbolizing a funeral for not just the neighbourhood, but outdated urban planning practices.

Griffintown resident Bear Lazarus, who has an art studio in the area, said the Devimco project, with its "thousands of parking spaces and lots of high rise buildings, big box stores," doesn't seem to benefit that many people.

"And they've asked us essentially to go ahead, and approve buildings that haven't been designed, in a 'trust us, we'll do what's best for you.'"

Critics have blasted the city for missing an opportunity to redevelop the area through a sustainable urban project that could showcase green building techniques.

Once the project clears city hall, construction could start as early as 2009.