MINUTES – PUBLIC – TERRITORY AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – 1st meeting – February 12, 2025 – 2:29 p.m. to 4:18 p.m.

Revision of the Land Use and Development Plan (SAD) – Presentation

Antoni Dion, Project Coordinator - Land Planning and Development - Service de l’urbanisme et du développement durable (SUDD), accompanied by Mathieu Boissinot, Department Head, and Mr. Marco Pilon, Assistant Director, presents the revision of the Schéma d’aménagement et de développement (SAD). A status report is made. The scope of the project and the key stages of the revision of the Schéma (SAD) aiming to integrate the Orientations gouvernementales en aménagement du territoire (OGAT) are presented to the members. The presentation is informative in nature. The members of the Commission de l’environnement et de la lutte aux changements climatiques and the members of the Commission sur les transports, les déplacements durables et la sécurité are invited to attend this presentation. The objective is to promote the sharing of information related to a subject of common interest.

Break from 3:12 p.m. to 3:17 p.m. - Technical issue related to the Internet network.

It is specified that the Commission du développement du territoire et de l’habitation (CDTH) will play a strategic, monitoring, coherence, and recommendation role throughout the process, scheduled until 2028, and that it will also ensure the follow-up of the public participation strategy. The Service recalls that the SAD constitutes a unifying document, the main planning tool of an MRC, allowing for the alignment of sectoral planning with the municipal regulatory framework. The planning orientations currently in force are recalled. It is specified that on December 1, 2024, new government orientations in land use planning came into force, with a compliance deadline of three years. The following nine OGAT are presented:

1. Climate resilience
2. Conservation of ecosystems
3. Territory and agricultural activity
4. Living environments and housing
5. Distinctive characteristics of living environments
6. Attractiveness and dynamism of communities
7. Mining activity
8. Development of public territory
9. Wind energy potential

The Service informs the members that a novelty in the revision of the SAD lies in the integration of a monitoring system, supported by a transversal approach grouping the OGAT into five analysis themes to guide the evaluation of the territory and adjustments to the SAD. It is recalled that the 5 planning orientations that guide planning and actions on the territory are as follows:

1. Manage growth in a way that increases economic efficiency and the competitiveness of Gatineau;
2. Prioritize sustainable mobility;
3. Enhance natural and cultural heritage;
4. Create complete and eco-responsible living environments;
5. Protect people and property.

Finally, among the next steps, the Service announces the creation of a portrait of the territory and the launch of calls for tenders for five studies during the year 2026.

Discussion Period

General Comments: Thanks are addressed to the Service for the quality of the presentation. The chair explains the flow of the exchange period, first inviting the members of the Commission in charge of the file (CDTH) to issue their comments. It is explained that after a first round of exchanges, the discussion will be opened. The members of the invited commissions will then be able to ask clarifying questions or formulate comments in connection with the presentation.

Energy Issues: Several exchanges focus on energy issues, mobility, citizen participation, and the governance of the process. The chair first invites consideration of OGAT 9, related to wind energy potential, as an opportunity to broaden the reflection to other energy sources, notably solar, while recognizing that government orientations cannot be modified.

Alignment of the SAD with the Climate Plan and the PRMHH: The alignment of the SAD with the Climate Plan and the Plan régional des milieux humides et hydriques (PRMHH) is welcomed and deemed essential to ensure coherence and environmental protection. A member recalls having already raised the limits of the decarbonization potential a few years ago and insists on the importance of integrating the energy dimension into territorial planning.

Renewable Energy and Heat: The question of renewable energy is addressed, notably the under-exploited potential of industrial residual heat (waste heat). In this regard, the example of the energy loop between Zibi and Kruger is cited as a structuring and exemplary project. It is suggested that the City recognize these levers more in order to support the energy transition, innovation, and regional leadership. It is also mentioned that, to ensure decarbonization and the development of an efficient energy ecosystem, a reflection should be conducted on the agricultural zoning located near potential heat sources. Such recognition would allow the City to position itself strategically for heat recovery, notably in connection with large energy consumers, such as hospital infrastructure, and thus maximize the benefits.

Freight Transport: A member says they are concerned by objective 6 of the orientations, focusing on the optimization of investments and infrastructure. The issues of freight transport and trucking, notably the circulation of trucks between Gatineau and Ottawa (relevance of the solutions envisaged, e.g., new road link) are addressed, questioning the capacity of territorial planning to support the City's positions in intergovernmental discussions, notably with the NCC, in connection with the quality of life of citizens. It is recalled by the Service that road links are already identified in the development plan in force since 2015, notably near Kettle Island, while specifying that the discussions surrounding these projects remain complex and fall under several decision-making levels. The Service indicates that the mobility component will be the subject of in-depth reflection within the framework of the revision of the SAD.

Concertation, Consultation, and Initiatives: Emphasis is placed on the importance of continuous concertation with the business community, recalling that certain past regulatory measures, such as green roofs, raised issues for lack of sufficient dialogue upstream. It is also highlighted that several actors in the business community, notably in industrial parks, have already taken concrete actions, such as the installation of solar panels, and are questioning the mechanisms or platforms allowing these initiatives to be made visible and to maintain a continuous dialogue. It is insisted that the business community is often willing to contribute more, including on issues where it is not spontaneously expected, when the conditions for concertation are adequate. The Service specifies that the examples cited, notably that of green roofs, fall under the complementary document of the plan, which has a regulatory scope that is translated into the zoning bylaw. It indeed emphasizes the importance of ensuring, upstream, that these orientations are well aligned and that the partners concerned, including actors in the construction sector, have been adequately consulted before their regulatory translation.

Mobility and Resilience: A member highlights that mobility, although present in certain orientations (notably those related to living environments and housing), does not appear explicitly in the transversal elements, unlike the current plan. The relevance of existing tools, such as the Master Plan for the cycling network, is recalled. Reflections are underway at the Commission sur les transports, les déplacements durables et la sécurité (CTDDS) on a possible mobility plan.

Governance: The central role of the CDTH as a liaison body between commissions is raised. The transversal approach of this central role is illustrated by concrete examples of greening arteries, contributing to climate resilience, stormwater management, active mobility, and the quality of life of citizens. The discussion period is opened to the members of the invited commissions.

Integrated Approach: A member of the CELCC expresses their appreciation of the proposed integrated approach, while highlighting the complexity of the trade-offs to be made between issues of infrastructure, reception capacity, densification, sustainable mobility, ecological corridors, and citizen interests. More concrete examples of implementation are requested.

Citizen Participation and Involvement of Services: Inquiries are made about the citizen participation strategy, expressing concern regarding the risk of involving citizens too late in the process. A question is asked about the place of the Service de transition écologique in the governance of the project. In response, the SUDD indicates that the trade-off issues raised will feed into the future urbanization management file, which will be presented later and will allow for a more detailed approach, at the local scale, to questions of pace of development, density, and infrastructure capacity, in connection with the OGAT. Regarding citizen participation, it is specified that the strategy is being developed with the citizen interaction team and that the year 2027 will constitute a pivotal stage for public involvement, notably during the orientation phases, while emphasizing that 2026 is devoted to inputs and factual analyses. The Service also confirms that several municipal services, including that of ecological transition, are involved in the work, although the steering committee is not yet officially formed. It is also explained that it is towards the end of 2027 that citizens will be more consulted. The dialogue will be opened during phases 4 and 5, upstream of the Law.

Planning Horizons: A member supports the concerns expressed and questions the gap between the current plan and the new OGAT, as well as the possibility of transitional measures. They also raise the question of the different time scales (schedule) provided for in the government orientations and the interest of better coherence to facilitate implementation. The Service responds that a gap analysis has already been carried out in the preparatory phase and that the reflection continues regarding the harmonization of planning horizons, while recalling that certain requirements are imposed by the ministry.