Hudson unveils proposed conservation plan
The Town of Hudson is one step closer to finalizing a conservation plan that would restrict development in ecologically sensitive natural areas and wetlands. A public consultation was held last Wednesday to review the latest draft of the plan, which was prepared by environmental consultants from Montreal-based CIMA+. The plan incorporated feedback from a previous public consultation session held last year. The scope of the plan was limited to the urban perimeter of Hudson, but according to CIMA+ consultant Stéphanie Besner, a second report is planned to assess the outlying rural areas. The wetlands identified in the report were selected for their high ecological value, to protect wildlife habitats, and to protect water supply, quality and flow. Areas within the 20-year flood zone, where new construction is prohibited, were automatically included within the conservation map. Although 93 per cent of the urban perimeter of Hudson has already been developed, the report identifies six natural areas of ecological interest, including wetlands linked to Viviry Creek and other waterways, the private Clark-Sydenham nature preserve, the 20-year flood zone along the Ottawa River, and a wooded area that is home to vulnerable plant species. The report also identifies three ecological corridors linking five of these six conservation zones, along Viviry Creek and two waterways located in primarily agricultural areas. Besner noted that the proposed conservation areas were designed to include not only the target area to be preserved, but also a buffer zone around it and, whenever possible, the protection of ecological corridors linking conservation zones. Land owned by developers who have already received provincial approvals to begin work, such as Como Gardens and part of the Sandy Beach area, were not considered for preservation. The report also identifies four other vacant sectors considered to have “high development potential”: A six-hectare area between Ridge Road, Oakland Street, Hillside Street and Côte-St.-Charles; A two-hectare area between Main, Daoust and Mount Pleasant streets; A 16.71-hectare area between the railway and Main, Léger and Parsons streets; A fourhectare area between the railway and Wilkinson and Parsons streets In addition to identifying specific areas recommended for conservation and development, the report also includes a number of other recommendations for Hudson’s town council to consider, including a voluntary conservation program targeting private landowners and the creation of a green fund to support local non-profit and public agencies to finance projects to improve or protect the quality of the environment. The conservation plan has been sent to the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change for feedback and approval. A response is expected sometime this fall, Besner noted. Hudson’s conservation plan and natural areas report is posted on the town website at https://hudson.quebec/en/.