Updating the urban planning program – protection of natural areas

The project

The Town Council adopted, during its meeting on January 10, 2024, draft by-laws 767-2024 and 768-2024, which aim to preserve the natural character of the Town of Hudson.

These draft by-laws include provisions related to:

  • the felling of trees
  • the protection of natural areas, and
  • contributions for parks, playgrounds, and natural areas.

The adoption of these draft by-laws will also end the interim control by-law (“RCI”) in effect since the spring of 2022.

Impact

How do the new environment protection draft by-laws impact you?

There are three areas of note:

Protection of trees:

  • Increased restrictions on tree cutting (when, where, what size), and
  • New restrictions on the cutting of identified remarkable trees.

Protection of wetlands:

  • Prohibition on the filling of a wetland for residential purposes and,
  • For vacant lots, the buffer zone increases from 10 m to 15 m.

Financial contribution for parks and natural areas:

Expansion of the categories for which a payment of this contribution is required. These new categories include:

  • New home construction (including after demolition),
  • Major renovations in existing residential homes,
  • Expansion of commercial buildings, and
  • Change in the usage of a house or a building.

Presentation of draft by-laws

January 31, 2024, public presentation

April 24, 2024, public presentation

information panels

Information panels on display during the two Open Houses:

Have your say

YOU ARE INVITED

to express your views on these draft by-laws by participating in the following manner:

    1. Come and gather information at the open houses, scheduled for January 25th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and January 27th from 9 a.m. to noon. You will learn more about the new regulatory provisions aimed at preserving the natural character of the Town of Hudson.
    2. Engage with your fellow citizens and participate in the public dialogue on January 31st at 7 p.m. A presentation of these new draft by-laws and a question period are planned. *Due to the participatory nature of this event, the presentation and question period will be recorded but not live-streamed. The recording will be available on the Town’s website on February 2nd.
    3. Share your perspective by completing the online or paper questionnaire available from February 1st to February 14th. Your feedback will help inform the Town Council’s decision for the final adoption of the draft by-laws scheduled for April.

Documents

Documents

By-laws open for public consultation:

SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS

Regional Commitment to Land Protection

2012: The Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) adopts the Metropolitan Land-Use and Development Plan (PMAD).

  • Goal 3.1: Protect 17% of the Greater Montreal territory.

2021: The Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality (RCM) adopts By-law 232, approving its third-generation revised land use and development plan.

  • This plan guides land use planning across the region.
  • It requires all municipalities to include rules that protect natural environments, in line with the PMAD.

Local Natural Environment in Hudson

In 2020, Eco2Urb released its final report titled Results and Recommendations towards a Conservation Plan for the Town of Hudson. Key findings from the report included:

  • Natural environments (excluding urban forest cover) make up 37% of Hudson’s total surface area.
  • However, 27% of the town’s wooded areas are susceptible to development.

Hudson’s Urban Plan Update Process

To protect its natural environments, the Town of Hudson began updating its urban plan in December 2021.

Key Steps in the Process

  • December 6, 2021: Start of the urban plan amendment process.
    • Adoption of an interim control resolution to protect natural environments during this period.
  • February 24, 2022: Replacement of the resolution with a more flexible interim control by-law.
  • January 10, 2024: Adoption of draft by-laws 767 and 768 by Town Council.

Public consultation:

  • Two open houses, a public presentation and dialogue evening and a public survey
    • More than 150 residents attended the dialogue evening
    • Over 790 questionnaires were completed
  • 24 April 2024: public presentation of the modified by-laws.
  • 6 May 2024: adoption of the final versions by Council.

Review and Adoption of Final By-Laws

To ensure legal compliance, the by-laws were sent to the RCM for review. However, some elements of By-law 767 did not conform to the RCM Plan. As a result:

  • By-law 767 was split into:
    • 767.1-2024 – the compliant elements
    • 767.2-2024 – the non-compliant elements, revised for conformity
  • By-law 768-2024 was replaced by By-law 772-2024

These updated by-laws were adopted on December 2, 2024, and came into force on January 15, 2025, after receiving the RCM’s certificate of conformity.

Notification to Property Owners

As required under section 245 of the Act respecting land use planning and development, the Town sent notices to all affected or potentially affected property owners. These notices concerned:

  • Protection measures for wetlands, water bodies, and other areas with high ecological value.
  • Changes introduced by the new by-laws.

Reference documents

Consult the: