A developer wishing to develop a multi-family housing project, including a daycare center, on rue Bélanger in Rigaud, has once again been turned down by the municipal council.

Since 2019, Samuel Mainville has been working to obtain the city's agreement to complete his construction project. At the last regular council meeting on Tuesday, August 22, however, he was forced to face yet another refusal, as councillors accepted, by a majority vote, the recommendation of the Comité consultatif d'urbanisme (CCU) to refuse the developer's request.

"Have you seen the plans? The buffer zones? Did you seek expert advice before making your decision? We're open to discussion," asked Samuel Mainville at the outset. 

Answering yes to the plans, Mayor Marie-Claude Frigault simply pointed out that the CCU - a committee made up of two elected municipal officials and five citizens - was supported by the Urban Planning Department during the project study.

Falling through the cracks

According to Mr. Mainville, the request to amend the zoning by-law to allow the construction of multi-family residences and a day-care center in the sector had been accepted by the former municipal council. A fact that was validated by District 2 Councillor Archie Martin. Both he and the current mayor sat at the council table as municipal councillors.

"The file fell through the cracks when there were changes at the head of the Urban Planning Department, and now everything has to start all over again," lamented the promoter during the question period dedicated to citizens.

The project presented by Mr. Mainville, and studied and rejected by the CCU, called for the construction of multi-family dwellings comprising between 6 and 12 units on a maximum of two storeys, as well as a daycare centre. According to the information shared at the meeting, the project would include around one hundred units.

Single-family homes yes, but no apartments

In justifying its decision, the council mainly cited safety issues, notably due to the proximity of the highway and the Dr Oscar-Gendron industrial park. A ditch that has become a creek currently marks the limit between the residential and industrial sectors.

That said, construction of single-family detached or semi-detached residences, duplexes and two-family units is currently permitted in the sector. What's more, residents are already living there.

"Building a standard bungalow now costs between $400,000 and $500,000. Who wants to build a bungalow at that price, in Rigaud, on the edge of a highway and an industrial park?" questioned the developer.

A lack of vision?

For District 1 Councillor Charles Meunier, the arguments raised by the CCU are "debatable and there's no need to worry about safety issues," he said. "The industrial sector will eventually be developed. People will work there, and they'll have to find somewhere to live. They won't want to travel by bus morning and night... I think it's an excellent project."

However, Mayor Marie-Claude Frigault indicated that the city is currently considering the future of the Dr Oscar-Gendron industrial park.

"We are currently studying what will be accepted and what will be rejected in the sector. Are we going to keep the entire industrial park? Will we cut it down? We're thinking about the park right now."

The mayor invited Mr. Mainville to stay after the council meeting to find a time when the council could discuss the dossier with him in greater depth.