Gatineau says no to 435 Vanier Road

A major real estate project that is causing discontent in the Aylmer sector is now facing refusal from the Gatineau city council.

Citing traffic and safety issues, elected officials voted Tuesday evening against the construction of a 15-story building with 251 housing units at 435 Vanier Road. In addition, 270 parking spaces were to be created on this land located near Boulevard des Allumettières.

The decision was welcomed by many residents from the west of the city who had come to the Citizen’s House in preparation for the last meeting of the municipal council of the year 2024. Several of these taxpayers had spoken before that the mayor and councilors speak out.

We are happy to see that our municipal councilors listened to us. Not only those in our neighborhoods, but also those from outside who have seen citizen engagementsupported the president of the Association of Champlain Park Residents, Alexandre Vézina Prévost.

The latter refers to two petitions which collected more than 1,100 signatures. A demonstration also took place last Sunday against the project.

These citizens requested the rejection of the project, fearing an increase in traffic in this already congested neighborhood, particularly on Vanier Road. Monster traffic jams are already regularly recorded on this problematic artery of Gatineau, even on Saturdays and Sundays.

The group also called, without success, for a moratorium on any development in the Aylmer sector. He judges in particular that road and pedestrian infrastructures are not keeping up with the frenetic pace of real estate development over the last decade.

Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette was one of the 12 council members who opposed the 435 Vanier Road project. She was especially concerned about the flow of cars that could use the neighboring rue des Attikameks in the future.

A small street that is not designed to accommodate that much trafficshe clarified, affirming to have heard the concerns of citizens.

Regarding traffic on Vanier Road, Ms. Marquis-Bissonnette recognized that it is an issue thorny. According to her, several projects that are being developed in the sector in question are a little grinding teeth at the municipal council.

It is an artery that has not grown at the rate of growth in the western sector and we are seeing a lot of impact. There is a lot of congestion. Then traders are also experiencing impacts. They tell us about it.

The mayor recalled that the City gave the green light last summer to studies for the widening of Vanier Road. However, motorists will have to wait several years before being able to travel on additional lanes at this location.

A tunnel under Vanier Road?

Having voted against the real estate project in question, Councilor Gilles Chagnon believes that the City must study the possibility of building a short tunnel under Vanier Road at Boulevard des Allumettières. Such a road infrastructure would, he said, quickly improve traffic flow.

For her part, Catherine Craig-St-Louis spoke in favor of 435 Vanier Road along with seven other colleagues, emphasizing that Gatineau needs housing. The Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district councilor and member of the planning advisory committee explained that the project respects the municipality’s development plan.

A project held hostagesays the promoter

A representative of the promoter Dév Méta did not want to comment to - on Gatineau’s decision. Earlier in the evening before the vote, he addressed the elected officials during the question period.

The latter had deplored that the project was held hostage to send a message to the city council. He listed the financial benefits that the construction of the building would provide, which would also contribute, according to him, to respond to the housing crisis.

The latter recalled that the project meets the zoning of the sector and municipal regulations, in addition to having received the support of a majority of the members of the Gatineau urban planning advisory committee.

Green light for another project in Vanier

If the construction of this building has been put on ice, that of a 12-story building of 289 units located north of Boulevard des Allumettières, at 595 chemin Vanier, received the green light from elected officials on Tuesday evening.

Mitigomijokan district councilor Anik Des Marais explained that this is a matter completely different Who has been planned for a long time. This is the last phase of development of Destination Vanier.

In terms of traffic, there are more alternativessaid Ms. Des Marais, referring to the proximity of Boulevard du Plateau. Access to public transportation is also simpler, she noted.