Hundreds of people are expected Monday evening to denounce a proposal by the town of Beaconsfield to develop more than 400 condos in the Angell Woods Park.
Conservationists and park goers are furious that the town wants to develop the land.
The park is 105 hectares, the equivalent of almost 200 football fields.
Real estate developers own 60 percent of the land but all of it has been zoned for residential growth.
“This is going to take away one of the most beautiful spots in Beaconsfield,” Anne-Marie Flood said as she walked her dog through the park Monday morning. “I think it’s ridiculous,” she added.
The town wants to build the housing in two phases. The first would be 60 condos behind the Sunrise seniors home. Eventually, another 400 would be built on the southern portion of the park near Elm Street and the Beaurepaire train station.
“The fact is they (real estate developers) have rights and they’re expecting a certain value on their property and we cannot just zone everything green and park and think they’re going to be giving us the land,” said Denis Chabot, the town’s urban planner.
The town passed a resolution in June requesting the City of Montreal buy the land to preserve it as a natural green space. But park goers argue that is smoke and mirrors – that Beaconsfield only passed the resolution with the intent of still allowing developers to build.
Conservationists vow to continue their battle – well beyond tonight’s information session that begins at 7 p.m. at the Beaconsfield town hall.
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