Pizza Pizza allowed to open across from Brossard high school, court rules

A Quebec Superior Court judgehas granted thefast-food chain Pizza Pizzapermission to opena restaurant fewerthan 100 metres from a high school in Brossard, despite efforts by the Montreal South Shore suburbto block the move.

It's the first time in Quebec that zoning regulations for fast-food outlets near schools have been the subject ofa legal challenge.

The case was followed closely by several Quebec municipalities, including Laval, thatare also seeking to limit students' easy access to junk food.

• Pizza Pizza launches lawsuit against Brossard over fast-food ban
• Laval calls for fast food ban near schools

Last July, Brossardissueda notice of motion to ban fast-food restaurantsin front ofAntoine-BrossardHigh School on Rome Boulevard.

ButPizza Pizza had applied for a permitbefore the bylaw was adopted, to set up shop in a building that housed a Subway sandwich shop until last March.

Ina decision handed down on Feb. 18,Justice KirklandCasgrain found that the notice of motion wasn't sufficiently precise.Pizza Pizza had already signed a lease at the location when the bylaw was adopted.

City encouraging healthy lifestyles

Alexandre Plante, the Brossardcity councillorin charge ofthe city's healthy lifestyle initiatives, told CBChe's "very disappointed" with the ruling.

He said the zoning change is part of a broader attempt to encourage healthy living, andhe stressed that the bylaw will apply to new restaurants.

A legal representative forPizza Pizza said the company was satisfied with the decision and would proceed with opening the restaurant.