Study highlights negative impacts of western Pierrefonds project

A new study warns of the negative environmental and economic impacts of the proposed real estate project in western Pierrefonds.

The study by Juste Rajaonson of Université du Québec à Montréal’s (UQAM) department of urban studies and tourism, was prepared for Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme, a local citizens’ group which opposes a proposal for more than 5,000 new housing units on 185 hectares in western Pierrefonds.

The land at stake includes wetlands, wet meadows, forests as well as many types of rare birds and wildlife.

The study concluded that because of the existence of wetlands in the area, Quebec’s Environment Quality Act “could represent a major limitation” on residential development.

The study also examined the economic costs of the project to taxpayers, including the public cost of infrastructure, drainage of wetlands, and other long-term maintenance costs.

The study notes that increases in future tax revenue risk being “wiped out by increased annual costs of new infrastructure maintenance, equipment, and other public services.”

Alison Hackney of Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme said the study debunks the theory that all new developments have a net economic benefit.

“It’s been for too long that it’s been taken for granted that development means more taxes and more prosperity,” she said. “But that’s not a given. “

Hackney said the new project would “bring more cars to the area and we have to figure out how much it will cost and what the upkeep will be.”

Rajaonson, the study’s author, said the developing such a vast green area comes at a hefty cost to taxpayers.

Sue Stacho, also of Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme, said the UQAM study reveals the environmental and economic burdens facing Pierrefonds residents if the real estate project is allowed to go ahead.

Hackney said she believes public opposition to the project is growing.

“I say that because we’ve gathered 17,000 signatures on our petition asking Mayor (Denis) Coderre to protect the area. And this study proves it’s a very precious area in terms of habitat and biodiversity.”