Pointe-au-Père Forest Conservation Zone
- The Rimouski city council has begun the process of creating a conservation zone in a portion of the Pointe-au-Père woodland.
- The project aims to prohibit any residential construction in the southern part of the small forest, located near the intersection of Sainte-Anne Boulevard and des Tournesols Street.
- Notably, the northern part of the woodland is excluded and could potentially accommodate the new living environment.
Rimouski Council Initiates Conservation Zone Process for Pointe-au-Père
Table of Contents
- Rimouski Council Initiates Conservation Zone Process for Pointe-au-Père
- Rimouski’s Pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone: Your Questions Answered
- What is the Pointe-au-Père Conservation zone Project?
- Why is Rimouski creating a conservation zone in Pointe-au-Père?
- Where is the Pointe-au-Père conservation zone located?
- How large is the proposed conservation zone?
- What are the key dates for the Pointe-au-Père conservation zone project?
- What are the potential impacts of creating this conservation zone?
- What are the arguments against the Pointe-au-Père development project?
- What’s next for the Pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone?
- Summary of pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone Project
The Rimouski city council has begun the process of creating a conservation zone in a portion of the Pointe-au-Père woodland. This area is “visée par l’aménagement d’un nouveau quartier” with over 800 housing units planned on city-owned land. However, the conservation zone will be smaller than initially anticipated.
The project aims to prohibit any residential construction in the southern part of the small forest, located near the intersection of Sainte-Anne Boulevard and des Tournesols Street.
Notably, the northern part of the woodland is excluded and could potentially accommodate the new living environment.
Reduced Area for Conservation
The area of the proposed conservation zone is smaller than that defined in the preliminary concept plan presented by the municipal administration in November 2023.
The city acknowledges this reduction but indicates that a second conservation zone could be proposed later.
Rimouski Mayor Guy Caron mentioned that “l’un des éléments qui [les] poussent à avoir cette zone [de conservation] est une demande du ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation
.”
He further explained, “[Pour permettre] l’attribution d’une zone résidentielle dans la Cité des achats, le Ministère nous demandait de retirer une portion équivalente d’une zone résidentielle, ce que l’on a fait par le choix de créer une zone de conservation à Pointe-au-Père
.”
The reason for the Ministry’s requirement remains unclear.
Opposition to the Pointe-au-Père Project
Numerous voices have spoken out in recent years to denounce the project. Though, only four citizens attended the extraordinary city council meeting held at noon on Wednesday.
Three of these citizens questioned the project’s validity, expressing a preference for designating the entire woodland as a conservation zone.
Ce qui est demandé depuis le début de ce projet-là, c’est une protection de tout le milieu. Je ne comprends pas pourquoi la Ville a décidé de scinder le lot en deux.
Lysanne Picard-Paquin, citoyenne de Rimouski
Lysanne Picard-Paquin is notably unimpressed by the City’s decision, noting that the targeted conservation zone is more of a peat bog than a woodland.
The next step in creating the conservation zone will occur during the city council meeting on March 24, when the project will be submitted for public consultation.
Afterward,the elected officials will decide on the future of this project.
Key Dates
- November 2023: Preliminary concept plan presented.
- March 24: Public consultation during city council meeting.
Potential Impacts
- Residential construction prohibited in the southern part of the forest.
- Northern part of the woodland could accommodate a new living environment.
- Possible future proposal for a second conservation zone.
Rimouski’s Pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone: Your Questions Answered
The Rimouski city council is taking steps to establish a conservation zone in part of the Pointe-au-Père woodland. This decision comes amidst plans for a new residential development in the area. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about this ongoing project.
What is the Pointe-au-Père Conservation zone Project?
The Pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone project involves creating a protected area within the Pointe-au-Père woodland in Rimouski. The aim is to prohibit residential construction in the southern part of this forest while allowing potential development in the northern section. This project has sparked both support and opposition from the community.
Why is Rimouski creating a conservation zone in Pointe-au-Père?
The creation of the conservation zone is partly driven by a request from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing). According to Rimouski Mayor Guy Caron, the ministry requested the city to withdraw an equivalent portion of a residential zone to allow for residential zoning in the Cité des achats (Shopping city). The city then chose to create a conservation zone in Pointe-au-Père.
Where is the Pointe-au-Père conservation zone located?
The proposed conservation zone is located in the southern part of the Pointe-au-Père woodland,near the intersection of Sainte-Anne Boulevard and des Tournesols Street in Rimouski.
How large is the proposed conservation zone?
The exact size of the proposed conservation zone is smaller than what was initially outlined in the preliminary concept plan presented in November 2023. The city has acknowledged this reduction and indicated that a second conservation zone coudl be proposed in the future to supplement the original area.
What are the key dates for the Pointe-au-Père conservation zone project?
Here’s a timeline of significant events:
November 2023: Preliminary concept plan for the conservation zone was presented.
March 24: The project was submitted for public consultation during a city council meeting.
What are the potential impacts of creating this conservation zone?
The creation of the conservation zone has several potential impacts:
Prohibition of residential construction: Residential construction is prohibited in the southern part of the Pointe-au-Père forest which now forms the new conservation zone.
Potential for development: The northern part of the woodland could still be used for the planned new residential “living environment”.
Future conservation: Ther is the possibility of a second conservation zone being proposed in the future.
What are the arguments against the Pointe-au-Père development project?
Many individuals have voiced their opposition to the overall development project in Pointe-au-Père. Key concerns include:
Desire for full protection: critics, like Rimouski citizen Lysanne Picard-Paquin, argue that the entire woodland should be protected instead of being divided into two sections. Picard-Paquin expressed her disapproval of the city’s decision to split the lot in two.
Environmental concerns: Some believe the targeted conservation zone is more of a peat bog than a woodland, questioning the effectiveness of the conservation efforts in the selected area.
What’s next for the Pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone?
Following the public consultation on March 24, elected officials will decide on the future of the project.This decision will determine the scope and impact of the conservation zone, and also the future of the proposed residential development in Pointe-au-Père.
Summary of pointe-au-Père Conservation Zone Project
| aspect | Details |
| ————————- | ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Location | Southern part of Pointe-au-Père woodland, near Sainte-Anne Boulevard and des Tournesols Street, Rimouski |
| Goal | prohibit residential construction in the designated part of the woodland, establish a conservation area |
| Reasoning | Partially in response to a request from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation related to residential zoning allowances in another area of the city, the Cité des achats*. |
| Size | Smaller than initially planned; a second conservation zone might be proposed later |
| potential Impacts | Residential construction prohibited in the southern