Open letter to Councillor Duggan

 

This is from concerned residents in the Deschênes / Fraser St. area who oppose any proposed development of the Deschênes Forest area. The forest provides a valuable respite from the endless cookie-cutter infill that is plaguing Aylmer as a habitable part of Gatineau and provides a sanctuary for wildlife and peaceful activity for those in the area.

Infill as a way to sustain infrastructure costs lacks imagination -- and isn't successful, as proven by infrastructure around the Lucerne/Fraser area.  The recent infill along Fraser St. never resulted in an improvement in the infamously poor condition of Lucerne Boulevard or surrounding streets, and has only added to the burden of traffic on Lucerne Boulevard.  And the infill project only will benefit residents on the Plateau, far away from the corner of Lucerne and Fraser.  Given the unprecedented and extreme amount of infill on the plateau that rolled over the forests and fields, it baffles the mind that none of that is sufficient to finance their own public projects.  

While there's no doubt some individuals gain financial benefit from more and more layers of infill development, higher-density infill has never done anything to improve the situation of residents themselves -- increasing traffic load, erasing the presence of important wooded areas that make the Aylmer sector such a beautiful place, and with no discernible improvement to infrastructure -- as we've already experienced.

To this resident, your history of serving this community appears dismissive in general, distracted by the interests of developers and running for other public positions. Please work for the long-term well-being of the residents of the area, your constituents, and lend your voice to putting a stop to the Deschênes Forest infill project.

Darren Holmes & Chantal Lancaster

Aylmer