Monday, April 11 in Saint-Donat, it was a full house municipal council meeting. Mayor Joé Deslauriers declared: “There are a lot of people tonight […] Thank you so much and here you are. We can say that democracy has been implemented and we will listen to you. “
Listened, perhaps, but certainly not heard, according to some citizens who criticize the lack of transparency of the Municipality in relation to the approval of a recreational tourism project in a residential area.
That night, many of them wanted to kneel to express their concerns and their dissatisfaction.
They regret the fact that the Municipality allowed a promoter, owner of a land of more than 10 million square feet, the construction of two projects that, according to residents, have the potential to damage wetlands, swamps, but also to the swallows on the bank, which make their nests in this land, and to the ducks of Lac Archambault.
Jean-Philippe Cloutier, like many residents, attacked mainly the huge lack of transparency from the Municipality. He said the City is trying to get people to gradually swallow a big project. A way to be easier to adopt, according to him.
” One has the impression that the facts are presented without being consulted. We are not against the project, we are against the management of the City and its lack of transparency. “
Jean-Philippe Cloutier lives less than a kilometer from the land purchased by the project’s promoter, Kevin Richer. He also fears the light pollution that could be generated by the arrival of more tourists around Lake Archambault.
In a petition launched by the collective Action citoyenne Saint-Donat, signed by more than 5,500 people, we read that the Municipality has not implemented any measure of transparency or public consultation aimed at ensuring the social acceptability of this megaproject. This was strongly condemned by the mayor of the City, Joé Deslauriers. According to him, the city council was very transparent in presenting the project in an orderly and appropriate form at one of its meetings.
Despite a host of concerned residents and a petition that garnered thousands of signatures, the city council voted in favor of the project. The mayor and his team could have, as permitted by conditional use, at least put in place approval conditions to guarantee greater environmental protection, according to some citizens.
But the mayor went ahead and signed. He thinks the information circulates poorly and the petition’s claims are wrong. According to him, all the information is available and the municipal council has free rein to approve the project.
The project
On the massive terrain, on the side of the mountain, 10-wheel trucks are parked one after another. Then, a crawler bulldozer swept his shovel on the new gravel carpet. Kevin Richer explained to us that he was in the process of building a road within a kilometer long on his land that could serve the 38 chalets he wanted to build.
These 38 units, which are meant to be sold, are part of the first phase of its major project. The Municipality authorized this subdivision two years ago as part of a consolidated project. However, he will have to request authorization for each chalet, which he intends to do as construction progresses. Added access to a club house which includes a swimming pool, jacuzzi, dry sauna and training gymnasium.
Kevin Richer now wants to build a hotel complex consisting of eight short-term rental cabins, for which he has acquired a with conditional use of the Municipality last month.
On the promoter’s website, www.montagnenoire.com, there is also the presence of a hotel complex and spa with mention development project.
Montagne Noire, a major tourist attraction
According to the mayor, 50,000 to 100,000 hikers a year come to enjoy the lush forests of Montagne Noire.
A mountain notorious for being the scene of the fall of Liberator Harry in 1943, in which 24 Canadian soldiers died.
During the summer, Régimbald road is crowded with vehicles of hikers going on an adventure.
According to the requirements of contribution for the purposes of parks, playgrounds and natural space from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation, the developer decided to transfer part of its land to the City, so that it could build another parking lot providing access to Montagne Noire, parking lot P2.
The new parking helps make Chemin Régimbald safer, the mayor argued.
But area residents see it as a problematic partnership. The Municipality is in a way judge and jury on this file, as they have an interest in P2. Ditto for access to Montagne Noireexplained Daniel Bulota, a resident of the area.
” Access to Montagne Noire is provided by the P2 parking lot, and the promoter has a ringside seat. We go through his project to go to Black Mountain. He dedicated one of Saint-Donat’s gems, the Montagne Noire, for his corporate benefit. “
A reduction of sand concerned
Citizens are wondering if the City is making sure the construction of the project respects all laws and all regulations put in place to protect the wetlands that are on the land of Kevin Richer and Lake Archambault.
According to the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC), all activities carried out in wetlands and water forms are subject to ministerial authorization under the 4th paragraph of the 1st paragraph of Article 22 of the Environment Quality Act (LQE). ). ).
However, certain acts may be exempted from an authorization if their effects are negligible.
The promoter, Kevin Richer, confirms that he took all the steps to protect the wetlands on his land. It is also the second of the major watersheds of Lake Archambault.
Kevin Richer makes sure that, if he needs government permission, he will follow the rules in the letter.
But citizens reported, at a municipal council meeting, that a sand reduction had been carried out in a wetland located on Kevin Richer’s land. The City has even confirmed the fact. MELCC has determined that it has received a complaint on this subject and an inspection will be conducted in due course.
A protected species
Another criticism expressed by opponents of the development is that the project involves construction near a nesting site for the Bank Swallow, a protected species in Canada.
In fact, under the Migratory Birds Regulations (MBR) and the Species and Risk Act (SARA), it is prohibited to destroy active swallow bank nests.
Reached by Radio-Canada, a spokesperson for Environment Canada referred us to the brochure intended for operators of sand and gravel pits. This document provides the procedure to be followed before starting work, during and after the nesting period of Bank Swallow. You can read in particular: In mine areas during nesting: profile your ravines and piles of soil/aggregate with a slope of less than 70 degrees.
The promoter, on the recommendation of Environment Canada, wants to keep them away by building slopes at 45 degrees, before the swallows arrive, to prevent nesting in the sector.
Pierre Drapeau, director of the Center for Forest Studies, finds it difficult to understand Environment Canada’s recommendation: It seems a bit strange to suggest such a proposal. Surprisingly we send out a method of measuring compensation when the dwelling is there and will be affected by the development work.he explains.
The framework is too loose
Lawyer Philippe Biuzzi, from the Center québécois du droit de l’environnement, who contacted the citizens of Saint-Donat, considers that the project complies with municipal regulations. But he pointed out that this does not mean it does not threaten biodiversity.
” The planning framework is too loose, allowing municipalities to approve projects in natural environments outside the perimeters of urbanization. “
The lawyer specified that the proponent may, depending on the structures, interventions or activities planned in the wetland, need to obtain permission from the Minister of the Environment or make a declaration of compliance.
” Sadly the target wetland is critical to the water quality and biodiversity of Lac Archambault. “
As for the current zoning, he specified, it allows the development of much of Montagne Noire. What is difficult for citizens to understand is that the current zoning allows the development of most of Montagne Noire. It is a mountain that people have been visiting for a long time and where they are attached. The project currently of concern to citizens is probably not the last at this location which, it should be noted, is outside the perimeter of urbanization. This is a problem often found in the planning tools of the municipalities of Lanaudière and of the Laurentians. When citizens became aware of the natural environments that these planning tools make it possible to develop, they were scandalized.
Saint Donat: Inhabited natural park
In 2016, the City of Saint-Donat obtained certification Inhabited natural park, first for a municipality in Canada. To obtain this recognition, the municipal council adopted in 2015 a charter under which the Municipality undertook to specifically remain an environment in which the natural heritage [est] protection.
We call ourselves “Inhabited natural park”, we attract customers with a slogan, but we make a false representation, says Daniel Dupont, retired resident of Saint-Donat. Commercial use is approved on fragile soil.
Daniel Dupont believes that by approving the project, we are simply leaving a permanent scar on a gem of the region.
Source: Radio-Canada
