Developer fights to build five-storey 'landmark'

The debate over height restrictions at Dartmouth Crossing rumbled on at a public meeting last week, with frustrated developers and a local councillor arguing a proposed "landmark" five-storey building should get the green light, despite a negative HRM-staff report on the planned construction.

The meeting was held to discuss an application by Environmental Design and Management, the company that represents the interests of Dartmouth Crossing Ltd., for the allowance of a single five-storey office building in an area zoned for office buildings of three storeys or less.

The building, which would be located on 2.5 acres at the corner of Commodore and Countryview drives, is described by Margot Young, managing partner of EDM, as a "signature" building that would anchor the development in Dartmouth Crossing.

Young presented drawings of the building and expressed anger at the length of time the process is taking - the feasibility of the project has been under discussion for more than two years.

"It's funny how one little building can get wrapped up in all sorts of stuff," she said.

But city staff have recommended the proposal to amend the zoning by-law be turned down because it's inconsistent with the present plan policy. Staff advised further delaying a final decision until the Business Parks Development Functional Plan is completed.

"I think it's premature for us to be considering this proposal," said HRM senior planner David Lane. "We've recommended to council to wait until the new functional plan is completed, but they've decided to go forward with the public meetings."

Tim Olive, executive director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, said he found it surprising that the city was even considering the application.

He argued that allowing such a development outside of either the downtown core or the City of Lakes Business Park could set a dangerous precedent.

"This is not the time to amend our municipal planning strategy or our land use bylaw to accommodate an unnecessary requirement to build a five-storey structure at Dartmouth Crossing," Olive said. "Particularly since they have the ability to meet the demands of their investors by utilizing their lands in the City of Lakes Business Park without compromising the economic future of downtown Dartmouth or fundamentally changing sound municipal development policies."

But that's not the case, according to Albro Lake-Harbourview Coun. Jim Smith. There is no danger of setting a precedent, he argued in an interview after the meeting, as each amendment is looked at on a case-by-case basis.

"I really haven't seen any problems with this proposal ... it's not far off what's already there," he told The Weekly News.

"I think if staff would have been a bit more open, this would already have been approved."

City staff will report back to council on the information collected from the meeting.

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