Longueuil family paying taxes on land for decades told they can’t build on it

Tasso Daras and his family have been paying taxes on two Longueuil lots since the 1970s, but the city now says the land is considered a protected natural area.

For more than 50 years, Tasso Daras and his family have been paying taxes on two pieces of land in Longueuil.

His parents bought the lots in the 1970s.

“Both my brother and I have been holding on to it. Paying the property taxes on an annual basis with the hopes of passing this onto our children,” Daras said.

The zoning for the land has always been “to be determined.” He had hopes it could one day be residential so he could develop homes for his children.

“We received a notice from the city that they were considering classifying the land as wetlands with no intent of expropriation or purchasing it,” Daras said.

In a letter from the city of Longueuil dated May 13, 2024, it explains that Daras is the owner of at least one piece of land located within or close to what the city calls “a natural environment.”

It also explains that Longueuil plans to protect at least 1,500 hectares of natural habitats to help fight climate change and protect biodiversity.

Finally, the city says the law permits Longueuil to protect these lots.

This leaves Daras with few options for a piece of land his family has been paying taxes on since the 70s.

“We can either find a conservation agency that would be willing to purchase it at a very small price versus its value, or we can continue to pay the property taxes on an annual basis,” Daras said.

CTV contacted Longueuil, but the city did not respond in time for publication.

Daras says the city told him he won’t be able to build here and Longueuil has no intention of buying the two lots.

If Daras doesn’t pay his taxes, the city will take back the land.

“We had high hopes that we would have something for our children in the future. Those are evaporated right now,” Daras said.

He worries the value of the land is now worth less than the thousands of dollars in taxes he’s paid over the years.

“We’re close to $4,600 per year for vacant land that we can’t develop or do anything with.”