Another wetland jewel
threatened by development

Senneville’s Lester B. Pearson Forest has significant ecological value

By Martin Gauthier

A 5.2-hectare grove of mature trees in Senneville known as the Lester B. Pearson Forest is slated to disappear after the council of this West Island community recently gave the green light for a cadastral plan that essentially leaves seven future owners of single-family dwellings in charge of managing its wetlands. This angers many citizens considering the ecological value of the property and threat of flooding to adjacent properties.

Commonly referred to as the ‘Triangle’ because of its shape, the Lester B. Pearson Forest is currently zoned for large-lot single-family dwellings. Running roughly north to south between Senneville and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, the Triangle is bordered on the west by residential streets and has a 0.6-hectare seasonal wetland in the middle.

A path through Pearson Woods – Image: Alison Hackney

Citizens of this lakeside community have been fighting for several years for the preservation of this commercial land located at the intersection of Highway 40 and the boulevard des Anciens-Combattants. Twice promoter Jacques Belisle proposed a zoning change to allow him to build condominiums on the site with the blessing of the town council. Twice Senneville residents vigorously opposed it.

Significant ecological value

In its 2013 study Écoterritoire de la Forêt de Senneville, Village de Senneville, Québec, environmental consulting firm Biofilia wrote that the Triangle has a moderate to high ecological value because of its large variety of tree species, a well-developed forest understory, the presence of wetlands and a forested corridor joining it to the McGill Woods. The firm deemed it essential for animal biodiversity.

… the Triangle has a moderate to high ecological value because of its large variety of tree species, a well-developed forest understory, the presence of wetlands and a forested corridor joining it to the McGill Woods… it [is] essential for animal biodiversity.

Biofilia, Écoterritoire de la Forêt de Senneville, Village de Senneville, Québec study (2013)

The forest is home to many species of migrating and local birds, including falcons, finches, robins and cardinals. Its paths are used by students of St. Georges High School for hebertism.

“It would be a tragedy to lose this lovely forest which contributes such important health benefits and ecosystem services to the citizens of the greater Montreal area”, says long-time resident and conservationist Alison Hackney, “especially when we consider that it is within the perimeter of the recently created Grand parc de l’Ouest and that Montreal is still quite far from its objective to protect ten percent of its land area”. Mrs. Hackney’s lawyers recently sent a demand letter to Senneville asking its council not to issue development permits but rather change the zoning of the forest to conservation.

A development plan for the Triangle is being negotiated

The town of Senneville indicates the owner of the property, Jacques Belisle, has applied for a permit to divide it into seven lots and to build a public road to access them. None of Senneville’s roads go to the Triangle. The plan for the development called Boisé Pearson, published in Senneville’s March 2020 newsletter, showcases a portion of Sainte-Anne Street running alongside St. Georges High School and joining the future development. This road belongs to the neighbouring town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and would presumably need to be ceded to Senneville for future property owners in the Boisé Pearson to access their homes.

Sensitive Ferns in wetland area – Image: Alison Hackney

In a response to a question asked by a citizen at the 13 July council meeting, Senneville mayor Julie Brisebois confirmed the existence of ongoing negotiations with Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue regarding this section of Sainte-Anne Street. Conditions of such a transaction remain unknown. Also unknown is who will cover expenses related to the possible upgrading of the sewerage, water mains and other utilities of that road as well as its possible expansion and resurfacing to compensate for additional traffic in front of the high school slated to expand to add more classrooms. Although Senneville states infrastructure within the development and the joining to the public network will be done at the cost of the developer, maintenance and repairs would be borne by Senneville taxpayers.

Specific economic and environmental impacts unknown

Despite several requests made by citizens, the town of Senneville refuses to undertake independent and detailed cost-benefit and water impact studies related to the Boisé Pearson project. According to mayor Julie Brisebois, the expected tax revenue after maintenance costs is $16,000, or about $18 per year per Senneville resident. This assessment almost certainly excludes the possible acquisition of Sainte-Anne Street, which worries some citizens.

‘By removing even a small number of trees and vegetation in an already fragile forested ecosystem and by increasing the number of impermeable surfaces with incoming infrastructures, it is likely there will be increased drainage and flooding issues in the area…’

Jan Adamowski, engineering hydrologist 

“In any normal business practice, it is a fait accompli that business analyses are performed to ensure that at the end of the day the project is viable”, says resident and financier Bill O’Brien. “After numerous discussions and letters to Senneville, we have not been given the requested answers on any financial aspect of the project. This is unacceptable as any major project in the business world begins with a financial investigation”.

Also worrisome is the environmental impact of construction in the forest. Every spring, part of the property bordering the wetlands of the Triangle gets flooded. Large ponds form for weeks on end as a result of thawing. The situation is far from improving as the years go by. Mature trees that constitute the bulk of this forest absorb and release an average of 150,000 litres of water in any given year. With most of the ash trees dying in the Triangle, many other owners in the area including engineering hydrologist Jan Adamowski worry about impending construction on the land. “By removing even a small number of trees and vegetation in an already fragile forested ecosystem and by increasing the number of impermeable surfaces with incoming infrastructures, it is likely there will be increased drainage and flooding issues in the area as well as further degradation of yet another small forested area on the island of Montreal”.

A precious shield

The Triangle provides Senneville residents with a natural shield against noise and light pollution and acts as a climate regulator. According to a 2015 David Suzuki Foundation report “green infrastructure represents the set of natural and semi-natural ecosystems that provide services essential to the well-being of individuals and communities” including water and air quality improvement, noise and light pollution and heat island abatement, stormwater management, and protection of biodiversity. The prevailing westerly winds bring the cooling benefits of Senneville’s trees towards the greyer, more urban parts of Montreal Island.

‘As the town of Senneville has shown no interest whatsoever to acquire the forest, the City of Montreal should step in and acquire the Lester B. Pearson Forest for the Grand parc de l’Ouest.’

– Bill O’Brien, Senneville resident

An important study, Aires protégées essentielles pour la santé, released in June by a group called La Planète s’invite en santé, underlines the contribution of protected natural spaces to human health, including reduction of stress, physical fitness, maintaining optimal ambient temperature, and protection from zoonoses.

Legal precedents favour conservation

Eastern Wood-Pewee – Image: Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) / CC BY-SA

In a 2012 speech to citizens of the West Island, lawyer Jean-François Girard, founder of the Centre québécois de droit en Environnement, stated that “using a change of zoning at the municipal level to prevent development on private wetland or wooded areas cannot be considered disguised expropriation”.

Since then several important legal decisions have proved Me Girard right. The City of Montreal was sued by developers when it refused to supply costly infrastructure for a proposed development on Meadowbrook Golf Course. Promoters sued the City of Beaconsfield for not zoning the Angell Woods sector for development. A group of developers sued Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue over their conservation-oriented plan for its north sector. In each case, the judge ruled that municipal governments can and must make decisions for the good of their citizens.

“As the town of Senneville has shown no interest whatsoever to acquire the forest, the City of Montreal should step in and acquire the Lester B. Pearson Forest for the Grand parc de l’Ouest”, says Bill O’Brien.

Time is pressing. Five of the seven lots of the Boisé Pearson project are already up for sale.

Feature image: Yellow Warbler by Mdf / CC BY-SA

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