Archive
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Vol. 26, No. 25
27 juin / June 27
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L’Outaouais en fête 2007 ouvre avec la reine Marjo!
Rockeuse incontestée, Marjo n’a pas perdu de sa fougue, comme a pu le constater le public à l’Outaouais en fête la premièrenuit, le jeudi 21 juin au parc des cèdres. Photo: Arthur Silverstone
Surveying underway: Mega-project in north Aylmer has a Phase 2
Julie Murray
In reponse to The Bulletin’s report on a proposal for a huge housing development in north Aylmer, Councillor Alain Riel says dividing the land east of Klock and south of Cook for a such a development would be impossible. “It would be illegal. This project isn’t even in the urban perimeter,” Riel told The Bulletin. “The zoning and management plan doesn’t allow it. The management plan is given to Municipal Affairs in Quebec and can’t be changed without public notice and consultation.” He also says that because the land is identified as an “urban reserve” for potential development in the future, it cannot be developed before the urban perimeter is full, which should take ten to fifteen years. However, The Bulletin found fresh surveyor’s tags dotting a field on Cook Road, which is also lined with tags (see page 3). New tags also mark the proposed, arched entrance area on Klock Road.
Residents’ Association wants discussion
“We have to do prevention. Now is the time to talk, because once a project is on the table it’s too late.” notes Alain Tremblay, spokesman for the Cook-Road Aylmer North Residents Association. “This development might make economic sense, but socially, it is irresponsible. Look at health care—Aylmer can’t take it. There are already serious problems trying to find a doctor. As for recreation infrastructure, the park in North Aylmer isn’t maintained. The basketball court has a big hole in it. We have serious problems with water pressure and sometimes hours without water. What if there’s a fire? Tankers take longer to arrive. We need to stop and think carefully about any project that’s coming.
“We need to have vision,” adds Tremblay, who suggests that developers communicate with emergency services to create an ideal project. “I talked to the police and firefighters and asked them, if a project is built a certain way, would it cut down on crime, reduce speeding or lower response times? They said, ‘yes, of course, but developers never contact us.’ “ He adds, “Maybe it’s utopian, but can’t we do this type of planning before building?”
Phase 2 adds 10,000 more
The development reported in the June 22 Bulletin represents only Phase 1 of the project. Under Phase 2, dense housing would extend from Simmons to Vanier, and the developer is trying to acquire land at the corner of Vanier and Pink. Phase 2 would bring another 10,000 to 12,000 people, bringing the total number of new residents from 24,650 to 28,125.
When the development story hit the media, Mr Tremblay received phone calls and 82 emails from across Aylmer. “People are outraged that this is even considered. I would encourage all the residents of Aylmer who oppose this development to write the mayor at maire@gatineau.ca or Councillor Riel at riel.alain@gatineau.ca. I quote Margaret Mead, who said ‘Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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