Realtor fears heritage appeal could stall Irving Oil headquarters project

A Saint John real estate agent and proponent of Irving Oil's plan for a new headquarters in the city is concerned that the project is going to be tied up in an appeal process.

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Bob McVicar said he is concerned the appeal filed against the planned building development will endanger its chances of coming to fruition.

"Our fear is that the project gets tied up by this one appeal that it might not be heard for several months," said McVicar.

Jim Bezanson, a local heritage architect and contractor, filed the appeal with the province's Assessment and Planning Appeal Board last week.

Bezanson takes issue with the building's height and its positioning, which won't comply with the city's heritage conservation area bylaws.

Despite it being too tall and too far back from the sidewalk, the city's Heritage Development Board approved the plans for the building.

The exemption was given, in part, because the board felt the plans fit the Kings Square location where it would be built.

The Assessment and Planning Appeal Board has not revealed how long the process of an appeal will take.

McVicar said he worries that it will be bogged down with tax assessments.

He's launched an online petition asking the chair of the board to fast-track the appeal.

"Pull that appeal out of the pile and see with it first, deal with it first," he said.

"So we can get some clarity on the future of this important project."

So far more than 1,100 people have signed the petition and McVicar said he hopes to get more signatures this week.

McVicar said he plans to send the petition to the Assessment and Planning Appeal Board early next week. 

Irving Oil has not responded to CBC News requests for an interview regarding the matter.