Canal Square
Petition for a nature park project : already a first victory!
The MARE made public, the 28 avril 2020, a petition :
Coteau-du-Lac, a nature park rather than buildings up to 4 floors.
Your support has been spectacular!!!
In just a few days, with all the difficulties that the current period of confinement can bring to a petition project, they are close to 1600 people who supported us (now over 1800). Of this number, 60% came from the regions of Vaudreuil-Soulanges or Beauharnois-Salaberry, including nearly 300 residents of Coteau-du-Lac!
This massive support allowed us to experience a first victory!
the MARE, for several months now, wanted to present a public park project (Canal Square) in the heart of Coteau-du-Lac for the Juteau land, old scrap yard that was acquired by the municipality, then decontaminated.
Given the city’s investment in this land, the temptation was great to do a real estate project that would bring in municipal taxes to make up for the money spent.
It was becoming very difficult for the MARE, in these conditions, to publicize your project “Canal Square” (see below) which suggests preserving the public nature of the Juteau land in order to make it a nature park and a green gateway to the heart of Coteau-du-Lac.
Thanks to your support, the municipal council of Coteau-du-Lac accepted as part of a democratic exercise, to invite the population to express their views on the future of this field.
We would like to thank the city for giving citizens(born)s the opportunity to express yourself on this subject.
Continue to join the MARE to show us your support in this file.
Say YES to public and green land status for the Juteau land and NO to more real estate development.
Sign our petition inclick here!
Note : if you are resident(e) from Coteau-du-Lac, it is important to specify this when signing the petition.
MARE's proposal
We ask the city of Coteau-du-Lac to keep, ideally, the entire “Juteau land” of a public nature in order to give birth to it, in the next few years, a nature park that will serve as the gateway to the municipality from the highway 20, of the road 338 as well as the Soulanges canal cycle path.
Proposed actions
Preserve the few public lands still available to allow the community to give our municipality a more natural face.
More green less concrete : creation of a nature park by planting trees, shrubs, groves, edible and medicinal plants and wild flowers.
This nature park will ensure the continuity of the bike path to Chemin du Fleuve via the community center and rue Principale. Here we must make sure to add posters clearly identifying the attractions of our municipality.
We should also favor, on Principale Street, development of neighborhood businesses for residents and tourists : brasserie, cafés, restaurants, cycling shop, etc. Longer term, the creation of a planted route (bins), of a water course (small fountains, pool, water jets), of a light path (modern), of a
art course (sculptures, Art nature/land art), as well as the installation of drinking troughs, dry toilets and noise-reducing plant fences (route 338, highways and trains) could be considered.
These actions could also stimulate other projects :
- Installation of green walls and roofs on public buildings along the route.
- Creation of a vegetable garden at school.
- Addition of street furniture, children's games, picnic areas.
- At the entrance of the park : Home, rental of watercraft, access to the Canal and other activities to be determined (bike, winter bike, cross country skiing, etc).
Why?
Forest cover :
The Government of Canada advises to maintain a minimum forest cover area of 50% to ensure the survival of species and the health of aquatic environments. (1)
This is why the MARE actively works to protect the natural environments of the region. A statement (Public statement by the Mouvement d'Action Régional en Environnement on the urgency of stepping up measures to protect threatened natural environments in Vaudreuil-Soulanges) (2) was also given to the Minister of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change in Quebec in September 2019.
However, we consider that measures to protect the forest cover cannot be sufficient. Indeed, the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC now has only 27% forest area. (3) Reforestation must therefore be added to the protection of existing forests.
Conservation of public lands :
In Coteau-du-Lac, as in many municipalities in Quebec, undeveloped public land allowing the creation of new projects is becoming scarce. They are often sold to property developers who wish to build condo towers there..
However, another approach is possible. The municipality of Pointe-Claire provides us with a good example, since it has acquired, for 3,75 millions of dollars, a land with an area of 3300 m2 located at the entrance to the city. (4) The objective is, among others, to put gardens in it, trees and benches.
Place du Canal would be, her too, located at the entrance of the municipality and would consolidate the image of this city of nature and water that is Coteau-du-Lac.
Increased income :
Proximity to nature affects the value of a home and, in
result, on the municipal property tax base. So, home buyers are willing to pay more for property near a green space such as a park or forest. The lands located in the subdivisions favoring conservation would sell for 12 at 16% more expensive. (5)
Support for commercial vitality :
Consumers are ready, on average, to pay 12% more expensive for their goods and services on tree-lined commercial streets. Consumers say they are more likely to stay longer
a long time in these circles and coming back more often. (5)
Place du Canal nature park could become the funnel that leads people to the highway 20, from 338 or the Soulanges canal cycle path to downtown Coteau-du-Lac.
Health :
Studies have "shown that obesity, especially among young people, was linked, among other things, to a low level of accessibility to green spaces and a lack of interest in outdoor recreation. Similar correlations between green spaces and the longevity of seniors were also observed.. Green spaces would also have positive psychological effects on stress management, mental fatigue and state of mind. Finally, hospital studies have shown that surgery patients will recover faster if they see trees rather than brick walls from their bedroom window. " (5)
Moderation of extreme weather conditions :
“The effects of intense weather events like thunderstorms, heatwave episodes, storms and hurricanes can cause flooding, repressions, infrastructure breakdowns as well as health and public safety issues. These effects are mitigated by natural environments, the vegetated banks, urban woodlands and trees. ” (5)
It is by achieving these objectives that we will be able to ensure the ecological and economic health of Coteau-du-Lac, taking into account the needs of citizens, some tourists, traders and the planet.
Here is 2 suggestions of possible routes for a cycle path that could connect Place du Canal, the city center, Geoffrion Park and the Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site :
(6)
(1) Environment Canada. (2013). When is there enough habitat? . Spotted at https://www.usherbrooke.ca/moodle2-cours/pluginfile.php/1184287/mod_book/chapter/3
5098/When% 20is% 20that% 20habitat% 20est% 20sufficient% 202013.pdf
(2) BIG. (2019) Public statement of the Regional Environmental Action Movement (M.A.R.E.)* as to the urgency of intensifying measures to protect threatened natural environments in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Spotted at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRPdqfzvuOYRLoXPv47Smp93XT8Ke_nIb
nyV-INvCJSJcweuooAIFjdIdEotsxtbG8euo1vLZf2lQor / pub
(3) Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC. (2008). Tree and woodlands policy
Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Spotted at file:///home/chronos/u-7d97ee884a5aa0f28ffdb45a91a65148afaa1024/MyFiles/Downloads/
MRC-Arbres-boises.pdf
(4) François Lemieux. (2020). New public space in Pointe-Claire. Metro media. Spotted at https://journalmetro.com/local/2422000/nouvel-espace-public-a-pointe-claire/
(5) Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Occupation of the territory of Quebec. (2010). Biodiversity and urbanization : Guide to good practice on territorial planning and sustainable development. Spotted at https://www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/publications/grands_dossiers/developpement_durable/biodiversite_urbanisation_complet.pdf
(6) MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges. (2018), Revised layout and development plan - second project. Spotted at
http://mrcvs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Chapitre-7-Cartable-Final-2018-04-12_web.pdf