On Thursday August 29, dozens of Coteau-du-Lac residents gathered at the Pavillon Wilson to voice their concerns about the residential project that could be developed on the site of the former Camping Koa, bordering Highway 20 and Route 338. They fear the environmental impact that redevelopment of this site could have on the surrounding natural environment. 

It should be noted that this land is part of the Soulanges Canal overbank, and its development must comply with the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC development plan. The lots concerned by the public consultation are located between Highway 20, the Chemin du Canal right-of-way and Route 201. 

Among the citizens in attendance was former District 2 Councillor François Vallières. The City of Coteau-du-Lac representatives who took part in the public consultation were Mayor Andrée Brosseau, Councillor André Legros, the City's urban planning consultant Philippe Meunier and Caroline Di Narzo, Director of the municipal urban planning department. Also in attendance were city councillors Christine Arseneault, Alain Laprade and Patrick Delforge.  

A special urban plan to develop the area 

In order to help realize the regional vision for this site, and to take advantage of the canal's potential to develop recreational and tourist activities, the City of Coteau-du-Lac confirms that it will be drawing up a special urban plan (PPU) to guide the development of the part of this component located on the Soulanges canal's widest banks.

“This planning tool will also enable us to meet the regional condition for residential development in this sector for the redevelopment of the former Koa campground site. This document is a detailed plan of the activities that can be held there, and provides a framework for the development of this site. We can't do just anything there,” explained Mr. Meunier on the subject. 

During the course of the evening, Mr. Meunier specified the territory of application and its components of the sector's Plan particulier d'urbanisme (PPU). There will be three of them: Pôle récréotouristique écologique, Pôle d'habitation de moyenne densité and Pôle récréotouristique du Canal de Soulanges.  

The first pole will be located in part of the woodland where Camping Koa currently stands, north of Route 338. Permitted uses in this zone will be: recreation and tourism activities compatible with the natural environment, such as outdoor centers and bases with multifunctional trails (such as hiking trails, cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails and mountain bike trails), nature interpretation centers or aerial lodging centers.

These activities must be dominant and represent at least 70% of the surface area of the allocation. Other recreational activities will be permitted as long as they are located outside natural environments. Conservation activities are also permitted, as are public infrastructures related to the Soulanges Canal Regional Park, such as a reception building and parking lot.

The second use, recreotourism - Regional Park, will be located on the land bordering the Soulanges Canal right-of-way. Currently, this lot of land is owned by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable. The provincial authority will have to agree to cede these lots to the City of Coteau-du-Lac to enable the realization of this vision. It aims to authorize the development of recreational and tourism activities linked to the vocation of the Soulanges Canal Regional Park, and to enhance it. 

If the site develops in line with the MRC's vision, it will be used for recreational and tourism activities, mainly associated with the Soulanges Canal Regional Park and water sports. The site will also host public infrastructures linked to the Soulanges Canal Regional Park, such as a reception building and parking lot.

Finally, the third affection is the one that most attracts the attention of environment lovers. It corresponds to the developable portion of the former Camping Koa. Its purpose is to enable redevelopment of the site to create a new residential neighborhood with a varied residential typology that will meet the minimum density threshold set for the sector by the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC development plan.

The future neighborhood will include all types of housing, parks and green spaces, and public infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems. A total of 26 housing units per hectare could be built. According to information unveiled during the evening, 280 doors will be built if the project submitted to the city goes from abstract to concrete.  

At the end of the public consultation, Mayor Andrée Brosseau told those present that all comments made during the evening would be taken into consideration. A meeting will be organized between the municipal administration and elected officials to discuss the next steps. However, she did not commit herself further on the subject, despite the citizens' insistence. 

The next step for the four amendments is the adoption of the second draft by-law, which will take place at a future council meeting. 

To be read

Camping Koa: Coteau-du-Lac unveils plans for site redevelopment

Woodland on the former KOA campground: citizens want a larger share

Coteau-du-Lac councillor resigns for environmental reasons