Sherbrooke Cityoen sides with Mont Bellevue residents over Dunant/thibault development
The local candidates of the Sherbrooke Citoyen party gathered near the corner of Dunant and Thibault streets on Mont Bellevue on Wednesday afternoon to denounce what they called a lack of transparency and democracy. Party leader Hélène Pigot and local representatives Edwin Moreno and Julie Dionne joined their voices to those speaking out against the development of a new gas station on what was previously a quiet residential corner.
“I am here today as a citizen of Ascot to denounce the way Mayor Sévigny and his administration have failed to listen to the citizens of this area,” Moreno said, reiterating his party’s founding value of putting citizens first in all decision making processes.
“We’re seeing the city transformed into gas stations and businesses from far away,” said Pigot, arguing that the current city council has allowed developers to prosper to the detriment of the citizens. The party leader called the city’s decision to hand over an undeveloped lot in a residential neighbourhood “mysterious” and argued that the mayor should be trying harder to work out a solution.
“We need to sit down with developers,” Pigot said. “It seems as if Mr. Sévigny is simply telling developers they can do with the city whatever they want.”
Pigot also cautioned that the city is in possession of 700 similar lots and argued that such land should be used for communal benefit rather than private development and business.
“It is clear that we must show developers the citizens want something else.” Pigot said