Wellington Street residents question city decision on development

Homeowners living on Wellington Street in south end Halifax are upset with a decision this week by community council to support a proposed development.

Both city staff and the local planning districts recommended against the project by developer Dino Capital to build two apartment towers eight and 10 storeys high on lots that are zoned for three storeys.

At a community council meeting Tuesday, four of the six councillors ignored the planning advice and voted to support the project.

Pat Whitman, a resident of Wellington Street says it's frustrating because they gave no reasons for their decision.

“So we want to know why,” she said. “We want to know why councillors Walker, Reg Rankin, Linda Mosher and Steve Adams, our members, our members of community council did not support staff and did not support our councillors and did not support us.”

Whitman says they have written to the councillors to ask for the reasons behind their decision, but have not received a reply.

Whitman points out how much space the development will take up on the street. She says it will be at least 75 per cent and as much as 90 per cent of the site.

“This is a small street,” she said. “This is a two block street. Halifax By Design and the various other planning documents also said this type of development should belong on a major thoroughfare. This is not a major thoroughfare.”

Resident John Dalton says the decision is dangerous for many Halifax neighbourhoods.

“This isn’t this street’s issue only,” he said. “ This little side street is the same as any little side street in Halifax. It has building restrictions. On this particular street, it’s only 35 feet. That’s all the height you can build.”

Dalton wonders why Dino Capital is being treated differently.

“You and I have to obey this as citizens,” he said. “Why can this man come in, change these rules, build something three times that height, go against the city planners recommendations twice, go against the community recommendations twice and build these eight and 10 storey condos.”

Community council does not have the final say. The issue now goes to a public hearing and a vote by Halifax Regional Council. 

A date for the hearing will be set next week.