Côte Saint-Luc is happy Montreal commission recommends that Meadowbrook remain green

“The City of Côte Saint-Luc and the Town of Montreal West are happy that the commission agreed with recommendations made on May 6 by the Friends of Meadowbrook,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “Our city zoned as a green space the part of Meadowbrook on our territory because we believe the space is a natural oasis in the west end. We’re happy that the agglomeration commission agrees with us.”

The Commission permanente du conseil d’agglomération sur les grands équipements et activités d’intérêt d’agglomération held public hearings for three days in April and May to study the 2007-2008 Report on the Policy on the Protection and Enhancement of Natural Habitats. Councillor Dida Berku and Montreal West Mayor Campbell Stuart spoke with others from environmental groups such as Friends of Meadowbrook and Héritage Laurentien about the importance of protecting that green space in the west end.

The commission recommended that the Montreal agglomeration council recognize Meadowbrook as an eco-territory and protect it along with a network of natural spaces in the south-west sector of Montreal.

"We are truly thankful that the commission chairperson Michel Labrecque and the members of the commission listened to our pleas," said Councillor Berku, a long-time advocate for protecting Meadowbrook.

Mayor Stuart and Councillor Berku intend to promote the commission’s proposal for a network of natural spaces proposal to the governments of Quebec and Canada.

“The idea is to create a green corridor in the area, linking Meadowbrook with the Falaise St. Jacques and in the process improve the quality of the Turcot exchange redevelopment,” Mayor Stuart said. “Next month we make a presentation to the BAPE environmental impact review board hearings on the Turcot exchange in support of the proposal put forth by Héritage Laurentien to trade development on Meadowbrook for the right to develop some of the brownfield land in the Turcot Yards. We are looking for win-win solutions for the cities, the developer and the natural spaces of the island."

The commission also recommended that the Montreal agglomeration council intervene with the Ministry of Transport to ensure that the Falaise St. Jacques (St. Jacques Cliff) be protected from damage from the new Highway 20, which the Ministry currently plans to locate right at the foot of the eco-territory. The Falaise St. Jacques is a densely-wooded linear green space hanging down a cliff on the south side of St. Jacques St. in NDG. The highway would have to be moved a substantial distance from the Falaise to protect its fragile ecosystems, and this would also enable the land swap mentioned above.