The private real estate project planned on the Lac Saint-Joseph beach site is causing discontent, while a petition on the National Assembly website demands that the Quebec government acquire it to make it a park provincial.
Online since September 12, the petition entitled “Maintaining access to Lake Saint-Joseph for the population by acquiring the site and entrusting management to SÉPAQ” has so far collected at least 945 signatures.
Sponsored by solidarity MP Sol Zanetti, it mentions that “lakes and rivers are part of the common heritage of the nation and that we all have the right to access them”.
An element that is dear to the member for Jean-Lesage. “The situation that is happening at Lake Saint-Joseph at the moment is really a shame […] It is important that we maintain access to water and lakes that are close by, and not only access to people who have the means to buy cottages, especially in the context of the housing and the rising cost of living,” explains Mr. Zanetti.
Closed to the public
Public access to the beach at Lake Saint-Joseph ended last August, reported The Journal.
The owner and developer, Éric Brideau, plans to build 226 housing units there, including an outdoor swimming pool and underground parking.
The real estate project of developer Éric Brideau includes 226 housing units, as well as a swimming pool and underground parking.
Elisa Cloutier
According to the latter, it would not be “relevant” for the government to purchase the land, with the aim of making it a park managed by the Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ).
“The Quebec government already has a much larger site than ours on Lake Saint-Joseph, which they can use and maximize,” he explains, speaking of the Duchesnay Tourist Station, located less than 10 km away. .
«Ils [le gouvernement du Québec] have the space and land to build a huge public beach,” he adds.
Leave the “emotional side”
Regarding the petition, Mr. Brideau indicates that the population should “leave the emotional side and face reality”, while the beach, whose site is obsolete, has experienced a significant drop in traffic over the past few years. recent years.
During the closing weekend in August, only 148 customers showed up on Saturday, and 20 the next day, he says.
The main building at Lake Saint-Joseph beach is abandoned.
Elisa Cloutier
Citizen meetings
In the municipality of Fossambault-sur-le-Lac, Mayor Jacques Poulin believes that it is still too early to determine what will happen to the site, which still remains in “recreational tourism” zoning.
Citizen meetings, which, he admits, are enjoying unparalleled popularity, are planned for October 3 and 15. The real estate project at Lake Saint-Joseph will be discussed there.
“We are already full for the two evenings, we are likely to add others,” says the mayor, specifying that no decision will be made without a “consensus” of citizens.
“What is certain is that the project as it stands is unacceptable in the eyes of the population,” he said.
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