Inglis Street highrise rejection reaches Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
Pam Berman | CBC News | Posted: October 25, 2016 2:34 PM | Last Updated: October 25, 2016
Ottawa-based developer hopes UARB will overturn municipal decision
An Ottawa-based developer was before the province's utility and review board Tuesday to appeal a Halifax planning department decision not to allow two highrise towers to be built on the Canadian Martyrs Church site in the city's south end.
Ashcroft Homes intends the towers to be used for student housing, which is at a premium in that section of Halifax.
The question that dominated the hearing before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board was how a private developer can ensure all its tenants are students.
Halifax planners rejected Ashcroft's application in August for that reason. The property is zoned for university purposes and the city was not convinced the only tenants in the buildings would be students.
'We can't stop them'
The deal between Ashcroft and the Roman Catholic diocese is supposed to close at the end of October.
"The design is aimed at students," said Michael Michaud, an urban planner with the company. "But if someone really, really wants to go there legally we can't stop them."
According to company officials the 31- and 27-storey towers would have fully furnished suites with no balconies, limited parking, common areas and student-type programming.
Saint Mary's bid on property
Still, Halifax officials asked for a binding agreement with Saint Mary's University, which was one of the bidders for the land. The agreement would have assured that only students lived in the building.
"We decided not to pursue that," Michaud said. "Knowing that they were one of the bidders that weren't chosen, we felt that they wouldn't be particularly interested."
The appeal hearing is expected to continue until Thursday. A number of Halifax planners are on the municipality's witness list.
CBC's Pam Berman live blogged from Tuesday's hearing.