A multimillion-dollar condo project on Ile Charron that raised the ire of local ecologists has been put on ice.
There won't be any ground broken for any residential property development on the wooded island in the next two years, said Quebec Environment Minister Line Beauchamp.
"During this period of two years, we'll be able to undertake discussions with the owner with the goal of acquisition," she said on Sunday.
The short-term moratorium puts an end to a brewing conflict between environmental groups and Montreal real estate developer Luc Poirier.
Poirier bought the land last year for $6 million, and planned to build 2,500 condominiums on the St. Lawrence River island.
Community groups vigorously protested his project, voicing concerns about the potential impact on the 20.6 hectares of land midway between Montreal and Longueuil.
More than 20,000 people signed a petition this fall demanding the province protect the land from real estate development.
Poirier has since sold the land to Groupe Cholette for $130 million, but is still involved in the condominium project.
Quebec will do its best to negotiate a new deal to buy the land, with the ultimate goal of adding it to nearby Ile Boucherville Provincial Park, Beauchamp said.
Longueuil Mayor Claude Gladu is upset about the moratorium on residential property development. He told CBC News he was not consulted by the province and he's concerned about the loss of potential tax revenue.
With files from the Canadian PressShare Tools
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