Wetlands next door to town at risk

A group of environmentalists took to the streets in Chateauguay on Sunday to denounce a proposed housing project along Highway 30. A wooded area with wetlands would have to be destroyed to make way for the homes.

Nearly 40 took part in the march along St. Jean Baptiste Boulevard, where protesters stopped to hold placards spelling out “Sauvons la Terre à Faubert!” -  save Faubert’s land. 

A farm owned by that family previously occupied the stretch of land which has long been abandoned.

Dozens of drivers passing by honked in support upon seeing the human chain. 

“We don’t want the last of Chateauguay’s wetlands to be destroyed,” said Florian Rouaud, who spoke at the protest on behalf of the citizens committee against the project. “There are other ways we can densify housing, there’s other areas in Chateauguay where they can build.” 

Chateauguay has its eyes set on building upwards of 2,000 housing units on the 28-hectare stretch of land located between St. Jean Baptiste and Pierre Boursier boulevards. It has also promised to conserve at least 30 percent of existing wetlands and woods there. 

Nearly 8,000 have already signed a petition against the project launched by the citizens’ committee opposing it.

The city’s plan is incomprehensible and must be abandoned, the four environmental groups in attendance Sunday insist. The proposed housing project goes against the city’s own ecological transition plan that recommends against urban sprawl, they said.

“This area serves to filter pollution and absorb rainfall,” said Chantal Payant, also part of the citizens committee. “We need to build where it makes sense, and that’s downtown.”

Guy Turcotte said it’s not safe to build housing so close to Highway 30 because of how much noise and air pollution residents there will be subject to. One complex ranging from six to eight storeys directly facing the highway is what’s currently being proposed by the city, he reminded the crowd at the protest. 

“It makes absolutely no sense,” said Turcotte, who spoke on behalf of SOS Forêt Fernan-Seguin, a group that promotes the protection of biodiversity in Chateauguay. 

The project also fails to respond to the actual needs of the city’s citizens, the groups said.

“Yes, there’s a housing crisis – but it’s a crisis of affordable housing. Homes going for two or three million are available in Chateauguay,” he said. “This doesn’t even respond to the crisis. That’s why we’re demanding the city refrain from adopting the urbanism plan.” 

The former farm on the land dates back to 1890. Up until Monday, numerous structures remained there, including a home, a barn, and two other buildings. They were demolished just one day after the protest.

“It’s hard to believe a handful of people can decide to destroy something that is irreplaceable and that’s been there since 1890,” said Anna Zeliszczak, another vocal opponent who lives in suburbs surrounding the land.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake grand chief Cody Diabo said the council table has had internal discussions surrounding the housing project. He said they still want to speak with community members about it before taking a firm position on it.

Quebec’s environment ministry would have to authorize the destruction of wetlands there before the project can move forward. That ministry has a duty to consult Kahnawake anytime there’s proposed development next door, he said, and it shouldn’t be rushed.

“If they’re going to be developing things close to us, they need to tell us ahead of time and not just come at the 11th hour,” Diabo said.

The Quebec government still owes the community 211 acres of land stemming from an agreement reached in 2007 to make up the expansion of Highway 30. With that any undeveloped lands nearby to Kahnawake are currently of high interest.

“That would be an area that we would possibly want to be consulted on in terms of any type of land returns,” Diabo said.

Another public consultation session about the project is expected to be hosted by the City of Chateauguay in mid-October. The city has also actively been taking in written comments from its citizens about it - with those also expected to be presented and discussed at the session. 

This article was originally published in print on September 27 in issue 33.39 of The Eastern Door.

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