For more than a month, the citizens of Rigaud have been mobilizing and asking the city for explanations on the construction of a single-family residence located on the second summit of mont Rigaud.
It’s not so much the construction that’s disturbing, but the story behind it all. To fully understand the situation, you have to go back in time.
In 2016, the Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM, at the request of the City of Rigaud, adopted Interim Control By-law 229. This new bill specifies the targeted sector on mont Rigaud as well as the rules that will apply from now on for new constructions. Note that this also applies for future developments on the mountain. Indeed, with this new regulation, it will not be possible to build a house if the ecological potential is high or very high.
The City of Rigaud has relied on ecological studies to create areas where it will not be possible to build. In 2017, a study conducted by a private firm changed the ecological zones. Parts of lots which had a high ecological value are reassessed to lower levels.
All this brings us to May 2020 when a request for modification of the bill from Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr is made to the Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM. A number of lots are granted an exemption from the ban on building in areas of high or very high ecological value.
Claims
Two major claims emerge from the uproar on social networks: the preservation of the forest and the lack of communication from the municipal administration.
Preservation of the forest
The citizens we met all said they were somewhat uncomfortable with the new construction on the mountain. Having seen the efforts of the city and the RCM to protect mont Rigaud in 2016, citizens say they do not understand the stubbornness of both parties in regards to changes to their bylaws. Also, the municipal administration is also pushing residential construction in this area, which should be the opposite according to them.
“They are destroying the heart of the mountain, exclaims Michel Lauzon, a former resident of Rigaud. There was a walking path that crossed the second peak, but now the new owner is asking people to turn back.”
Residents questioned the city about building on the second summit. According to a press release issued by the City of Rigaud on October 27th , 2020, when a residential construction request is compliant, legal and located on a portion of land with low ecological value, we must issue a permit.
Citizens claim that they do not understand how, on the one hand, it promotes protection of the environment and on the other it authorizes residential projects that destroy much more than areas of low ecological value.
Indeed, citizens quickly noticed that construction machinery had cleared a larger area than expected. Part of the destroyed forest is assessed as having very high ecological value, which annoys the protesters.
Communication
In addition, according to citizens, the lack of active communication on the part of the city is a serious problem. Taxpayers have repeatedly asked for the full version of the 2017 ecological study. This is at the heart of the demands, because it changes areas with ecological values. A lot of false information has spread on social networks about the authors of this study. The citizens ask to see it, because at the moment they must blindly trust the city.
“We have suspicions about this study, said a citizen who wishes to remain anonymous. On its own, it has changed the bill more than twice. This study must be major to reverse the findings of 2016. Unfortunately, our city does not give a copy of it to verify the ins and outs. We don’t feel that they are listening.”
City response
Regarding the preservation of the forest, the City of Rigaud specifies that it is not deviating from its 2016 plan. It believes that this project will protect a large part of the still virgin lands of mont Rigaud and restrict residential construction.
“When there are areas of high or very high ecological value, no one can build, says Simon Saint-Michel, director of communications at the City of Rigaud. This project reaffirms our desire to have a city that respects the environment.”
When asked about the 2017 study, the city did not want to divulge too much. It will not be published in its entirety at this time to keep the data and the people behind it confidential. The administration has been keen to silence all rumors by saying that the 2017 assessment was not requested by the current owner of the single-family home or by any of his companies.
