Dream Dashed in Dorval

The McConnell Woods are still for sale. The Dorval city council announced last Wednesday that the $15.1 million offer it made for the McConnell Woods was not accepted. There is disappointment and disillusionment from the council and citizens, but some groups are concerned that the council’s offer was just a token attempt to placate citizens wanting for more green space.

The months-long saga of the property’s future has inspired the community of Dorval to pursue all avenues to try to turn it into a park. The last few council meetings have been filled with concerned citizens who all voiced their pleas and passionately argued for the McConnell Woods property, a 540,000 square foot woodland on Lakeshore Drive to be bought by the city.

In a letter dated September 11, Larry Waters of Waters & Co, the Trustee’s representative and adviser,  informed the city that the estate will be « pursuing other sale opportunities and we will not be retaining your offer at this time ».

Mayor Edgar Rouleau voiced his disappointed. « Despite a serious bid, we were not able to get our hands on this property. We will now try to initiate discussions with the new owner to try and preserve as much as possible this forest of high ecological potential.”

Neighbour of the land Christine Cachia is concerned that the broad support by the public might not have been adequately taken into consideration by Council. « We feel duped. As citizens we came forward, we just tried to say their might be another way. At the council meeting on July 17, the mayor made a commitment to table an offer. That offer did not get sent until August 11. If Dorval wanted to buy the land, they would have by now. »

Chantal Ducharme was equally suspect, especially after collecting over 2000 signatures on a petition for buying the woods.

Cachia and Ducharme intend to keep pressuring Mayor Rouleau to ensure that the property, once developed, keeps a high percentage of the older trees and green space. That desire is echoed by Lynda Cutler, president of the Dorval Horticultural and Ecological Society.

« It’s not clear in my head, there is something not forthright. I am so much for saving things we have no more. This is the last (woodland) of its kind in Dorval, » she says.

As of September 17, no offer has yet been accepted. The Dorval Council meeting scheduled for September 25 will be a raucous affair to be sure.