Lattion Street residents oppose eight-storey development

Tashi Farmilo

A proposed eight-storey residential development in Gatineau’s Aylmer district has become a flashpoint for debate over urban planning, community consultation, and the pace of densification. At the centre of the controversy is 8 chemin Lattion, a modest residential street where residents say the scale and proximity of the planned structure would fundamentally alter their neighbourhood.

Angie Bonenfant, a longtime Aylmer resident, has emerged as the voice of local opposition. Months before a May 13 municipal council meeting, she launched a petition that has since collected over 1,000 signatures. The petition reflects growing concern about the compatibility of the proposed development with existing infrastructure and the quiet character of the area. The site, located near a cycling path and a marina, currently offers mature tree cover and single-family homes. “This is not a protest against development,” Bonenfant said. “It’s a demand for intelligent development, something that fits.”

Residents argue that the proposed structure, set directly behind existing homes, would significantly intrude on privacy while placing additional strain on already limited public infrastructure. Parking is not permitted on rue Lattion due to its narrow width, and neighbours say the increase in traffic, noise from upper-storey balconies, and shadowing on backyards and pools would alter the residential character of the street. Many are urging the city to consider a scaled-down, four-storey alternative that they believe would better reflect the neighbourhood’s capacity and scale.

Cargo, the developer behind the project, maintains that it is acting in full accordance with Gatineau’s zoning and long-term urban plan. The land lies within a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) sector, identified by the city as an area for increased density aligned with future public transit expansions, including a proposed tramway. The company has said it is working to integrate public feedback and has adjusted plans to address concerns related to setbacks, visitor parking, and the visual impact of the building. It also points to environmental goals, including a projected 40 per cent increase in energy efficiency and a 75 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to a standard building.

The most recent official update from the city came on September 17, 2024, when the Comité sur les demandes de démolition (CDD) unanimously approved the demolition of the existing two-storey home at 8 chemin Lattion. That approval was conditional on the granting of any required minor variances by city council and the simultaneous issuance of both a demolition certificate and a construction permit. The city confirmed that it reviewed and considered public objections—along with the petition—before making its decision. The project must still go before the Comité consultatif d’urbanisme (CCU) and may return to council if further variances are needed.

Bonenfant, however, says those steps do not go far enough. She and others have asked the city for a full re-examination of the project and clearer communication at every step. They want assurances on who would be responsible for damages caused by construction, and what compensation—if any—would be available for property value depreciation. “A project of this size comes with real risks,” she said. “Cracked foundations. Lost value. Lost sunlight. It changes how people live.”

A 2020 council record shows that the original proposal submitted for the site involved three buildings totaling 45 units—roughly half the density now being proposed. Bonenfant said she and other residents have struggled to find information on who voted for the zoning change that allowed for the current plan. She described the city’s communication as insufficient and opaque, and called for greater transparency in how development projects are approved and monitored.

Residents have also raised environmental concerns. The development would require the removal of mature trees, which residents fear could destabilize the soil and increase urban heat effects. The tranquil walking paths and green spaces near the marina, they argue, would be irreversibly altered. “It’s not just about what goes up,” Bonenfant said. “It’s about what gets lost.”

Cargo held a public information session in March and has said it will continue to meet with residents. A follow-up meeting was recently scheduled at the company’s Chelsea office. The firm also noted that 10 per cent of the proposed units will be affordable, and eight will be accessible for individuals with reduced mobility. It has not ruled out further development on adjacent lots it has acquired nearby.

While the zoning permits the proposed height, Bonenfant argues that policy alone cannot justify what she sees as a poor fit for the area. “We’re talking about a street that was never designed to handle this kind of scale,” she said. “There’s a point at which zoning compliance becomes a technicality, not a justification.” For her, the issue raises broader questions about Gatineau’s approach to development and civic engagement. “This is not just chemin Lattion’s fight,” she said. “This is about what kind of city we want to live in. Do residents have a say, or are we simply told what’s going to happen to our neighbourhoods?”