It’s not easy zoning green

Although the West Island area is blessed with regional nature parks, notable green spaces such as the Morgan Arboretum and there is public access to the waterfront on Lake St. Louis as well as Rivière des Prairies, there are ongoing efforts to preserve local woodlands from development.

In Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, a proposed special planning program targets about 93 hectares in its north sector. It is billed by city council as balancing economic and environmental development. Although this initiative follows years of studies and a consultation process, promoters who own about 14 hectares in the area have already threatened to sue the town, claiming the program limits potential single-family home construction. The final version of the plan is expected to be approved by council in May. Ste-Anne’s new program will replace a 2012 initiative that could have almost doubled the town’s population of about 5,000. After a public outcry, it was shelved.

Meanwhile, a Pointe-Clairebased promoter recently unveiled plans for a 300-unit housing development in Hudson’s Sandy Beach area. The same private landowner had initially proposed a project for the 23-hectare site in 2001 but he claims it stalled because of a lack of action by the town. A group of residents have pressed the current town council, so far in vain, to consider purchasing the site. If the latest project is delayed and a pro-green space town council is elected next fall, it’s possible legal action could be launched by the landowner. To date, the municipality of 5,200 residents has claimed it cannot afford to obtain this land and that Hudson also faces pressing infrastructure issues such as overdue road repairs. The Office de consultation publique de Montréal is holding public meetings about a proposal to build up to 6,000 new housing units in western Pierrefonds, part of a 185-hectare area adjacent to the existing l’Anse-àl’Orme eco-territory.

Conservation advocates are calling on municipal officials to protect this land from development by any means available.

While politicians should be held accountable, it’s probable a council that initiated a contentious zoning matter won’t be around once a potential case is finally settled.

Quebec municipalities are heading into civic elections on Nov. 5, 2017, so the makeup of local council members could change dramatically by the time a case is settled.

Last week, Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle testified in court about a lawsuit filed against the city by the two main private landowners of Angell Woods. The suit concerns the policies and actions of a previous administration before Bourelle was elected in November 2013. To be fair, Bourelle has continued efforts to protect Angell Woods by having the city acquire small wooded lots, moves that could have helped to establish a market price for the undeveloped woodland.

Legal challenges to block largescale developments in green space are a reality. Montreal is currently facing a $46-million lawsuit filed by a real estate developer over claims of a “disguised expropriation” to preserve the Lachine portion of the Meadowbrook golf course as green space.

Municipalities shouldn’t decide planning programs or zoning based on the potential threat of legal action by landowners or promoters. These decisions should be made in the best interest of society as well as residents. It’s of no use to taxpayers if efforts to preserve green space are eventually overturned in court.