https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/quebec-flood-maps-outaouais-complaints-1.5200746
The red area highlights flood-risk areas in downtown Gatineau that would be part of the special intervention zone, where a moratorium on construction and rebuilding would be in effect. (Quebec Ministry of Environment and Climate Change)
Quebec reviews new flood zone maps after criticism they make no sense
Politicians, developers say maps would cover properties that never flood
Matthew Kupfer · CBC News · Posted: Jul 05, 2019 7:46 AM ET | Last Updated: 17 minutes ago
The Quebec government says it will review its proposed flood zone maps after opposition from municipalities and developers that they would put too much land under a moratorium on construction.
The maps illustrate areas at risk of flooding in a "special intervention zone," where construction and rebuilding would be paused.
In Fort-Coulonge, Que., west of Shawville, the mayor said the proposed map for their area would effectively "shut down the village."
Mayor Gaston Allard said it includes 200 residences in the 0-20 year flood zone in the community of 1,500 people.
"It makes no sense," Allard said in French in an interview with Radio-Canada's Les Matins d'ici radio show Thursday morning.
He said 98 homes in the municipality were evacuated during this spring's flood and not all of them were damaged.
"The cartographer should've been fired on the spot," he added.
Late Thursday, Quebec's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing put up a statement on its website saying the flood zone maps will be adjusted "to better reflect reality."
'Valid' projects at risk
Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said the proposed flood map for the area includes sections that hadn't been affected by flooding in 2017 or 2019.
"They must act quickly because if the map stays as it is, or if it's not perfect, it will be very difficult to change it afterwards," Pedneaud-Jobin said.
"Some huge development projects that are absolutely valid far from the flooding zone would be stopped if they don't change."
The mayor said millions of dollars worth of projects could be delayed by the moratorium, and that the city has sent its own maps to improve the province's plan.
Downtown condos included
Among those projects potentially affected is the Viu 2 condo development near the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge in downtown Hull.
The moratorium and the uncertainty around the flood maps could lead to summer construction delays, putting millions of dollars at risk, according to Charles Masse, vice-president of development and operations for the Heafy Group.
"The government has to correct it right now," Masse said.
"We're more than seven metres [up from the water] … if the Viu 1 or 2 is flooded I think all of the island of Hull will be flooded."
Jeff Westeinde, president of Zibi, said the development on the Chaudière Falls is being built with a mind to a once-in-a-1,000-year flood.
However, it's still in the red zone of the map that would pause development.
"The line that they've proposed makes no sense," Westeinde said.
"The line goes up and down by six and seven metres. Everyone knows that water flows at the same elevation. You don't get rising water by six or seven metres."
Government had to act, minister says
Minister for the Outaouais Mathieu Lacombe said the government had to move quickly to prevent a rush to get development permits or people beginning to build in areas that would be covered by the moratorium.
Pontiac Liberal MNA André Fortin wants the government to hold another round of consultation on the new maps.
"If it's not done properly, it's going to have a significant impact on the biggest investment that these people made in their lives," Fortin said.
The government is expected to finish its review in the coming weeks.
Prev
Linear Mode
