Guylain Poulin lives on rue du Platine. He is the spokesperson for the residents of the street and that of the Nickel, exasperated by the many inconveniences related to the dust raised by the cars.
We have dust everywhere. Tuesday, with the winds, we couldn’t open our frames. We wash our cars and an hour later it’s full of dust
he points out.
Guylain Poulin, resident of rue du Platine.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Andrei Audet
The citizen asks the City of Rouyn-Noranda to pave the streets in his neighborhood. Acting Mayor Samuelle Ramsay-Houle recalls that a dispute between the City, the Ministry of Transport (MTQ) and the promoter of residential development, Gestion Coulombe et Frères, prevents Mr. Poulin’s request from being met.
The City does not own the development. The developer does not give access to the City to carry out work on the site
she says.
In 2015, Gestion Coulombe et Frères filed a lawsuit against the City of Rouyn-Noranda and the MTQ regarding the configuration of direct access from the residential development to Saguenay Street. The developer alleges that the City had assured them that it had obtained authorization from the MTQ to develop this direct access. The developer had to change the configuration of its development following the MTQ’s refusal to provide direct access to Saguenay Street. The proponent believes that the Ministère des Transports had no reason to oppose this direct access and that their supporting arguments were unfounded. Forced to reconfigure part of the residential development, the developer would have had to face additional costs in drilling and blasting. Less than two years ago, the Court ruled in favor of the City and the MTQ. The developer, however, appealed the verdict, and the parties have since been awaiting a new trial date.
We were unable to reach Gestion Coulombe et Frères to obtain their point of view on the case.
” The City and Gestion Coulombe have abandoned us. They do nothing. »
Reduction measures
The entrance to the residential development located in the Noranda-Nord sector.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Andrei Audet
In summer, the City’s public works maintain the streets concerned with dust suppressants. Guylain Poulin regrets that this type of maintenance is not carried out often enough and earlier in the spring.
The deputy mayor of Rouyn-Noranda, Samuelle Ramsay-Houle, agrees that the municipal administration will study Mr. Poulin’s proposals.
Compensation
About forty citizens of the neighborhood came to the meeting of the Rouyn-Noranda municipal council on Monday evening. Among other things, they asked for a holiday or a tax reduction as compensation for the lack of asphalt on their streets. Such a request is difficult to justify, according to the deputy mayor.
The asphalt is loaded only once during the first works. Taxes are based on water and sewer services, waste management, road maintenance. It’s all things we do in their neighborhood
emphasizes Samuelle Ramsay-Houle.
Communication
The residential development is located in the Noranda-Nord sector.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Andrei Audet
Guylain Poulin would like the municipal administration to inform neighborhood residents of the developments in the dispute in which it is involved.
If at least the City gave us information on what is going on. We just know the case is on appeal
he says.
Samuelle Ramsay-Houle confirms that the City has never taken steps to share the details and the evolution of the conflict with the developer of the development.
As long as we have no news, we will not communicate the information to the citizens. In fact, we have no information. We are waiting for a settlement as soon as possible.
notes the deputy mayor.
The City of Rouyn-Noranda and Gestion Coulombe should be back in court this fall or next winter at the latest. The Deputy Mayor assures that as soon as the conflict is settled, the City should be able to carry out the paving work in the streets of the district.
There would be a transfer of the streets which would be carried out in favor of the City. […] We are just updating the paving costs for this type of sector.
says Samuelle Ramsay-Houle.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca