Protesters gathered outside Pierrefonds City Hall Monday to support the protection of the L’Anse-à-L’Orme site in Pierrefonds.
The L’Anse-à-L’Orme wetlands is the last untouched green space on the western part of the island of Montreal.
“There doesn’t need to be any development there. If they need development they can put it closer to the city and closer to public transportation,” said Sue Stacho from the group Sauvons L’Anse-à-L’Orme.
Montreal’s Public Consultation Office released its findings September 29th.
In it, the office determined that there was very little public support for development on the contested wetlands.
A report from the David Suzuki Foundation in 2016 said there were over 272 plant and wildlife species living in L’Anse-à-L’Orme and that 17 species were vulnerable.
Pierrefonds had proposed a 50/50 development plan where half of the land would be conserved.
“We asked the city to come up with more options, other than 50/50. They only gave one option and that one option wasn’t popular with the residents involved,” explained Anik Pouliot from the Public Consultation Office.
Pierrefonds Mayor Jim Beis accepts the report from the Public Consultation Office, but won’t rule out proposing a new plan for the area.
“There are some residents who don’t want any development on the site and I respect that, but we still need an urban boulevard in that area, whether or not there is development,” said Beis.
Protesters promise to use the ongoing municipal elections to rally support for their cause.