The municipality of Saint-Hippolyte issued a certificate of authorization on June 6, 2022, which allows the promoter COCRÉA Immobilier Inc. to operate a vacation camp on the two lots acquired last spring. During meetings with the municipality on June 10 and 14, 2022, we expressed our disagreement with the classification of this project regarding the zoning by-law. We consider that this project is a “vacation centre” and not a “vacation camp” according to the definitions of the zoning regulation, and that consequently, it can’t be carried out on the two lands acquired from Camps de Santé Bruchési Inc. We reiterated our position at our annual general meeting held on June 18, 2022, and on several occasions during city council meetings.
Faced with the contradictory positions between the municipality and APLA, we sought a legal opinion from a law firm specializing in municipal law. According to the opinion of this firm, the COCRÉA project would be a “vacation centre”, specifically because of its commercial and touristic nature. The municipality hasn’t, to date, obtained a legal opinion based on the zoning by-law in force at the time of the authorization certificate issuance and still maintains its position. Faced with these still divergent points of view between the parties, we asked our lawyers to file a formal notice to the municipality requesting the authorization certificate cancellation.
We deeply regret having to take such recourses with the municipality. However, we remain convinced that our interpretation of the zoning by-law is the correct one. Keeping in mind that these recourses are paid with donations from our members, this decision was carefully considered. We ask that you send a statement of support to your board of directors as follows:
We support the APLA Board of Directors approach regarding the classification of the COCRÉA project about the zoning by-law and we’re asking for the authorization certificate cancellation.
This mention should be sent to greffe@saint-hippolyte.ca with a copy to info@aplaweb.ca.
The municipality has announced an information session on the COCRÉA project on October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Centre des loisirs et de la vie communautaire. We invite you to participate in large numbers to express your opinion.
Thank you for your attention,
