Councillors approve exemption from height rules for YMCA expansion
Posted Mar 21, 2012 06:35:35 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Council has unanimously voted to let a development move forward, even though it exceeds height restrictions laid out in HRM By Design.
The proposed YMCA building at the corner of Sackville and South Park streets includes two residential towers, one of which is more than double the current height restriction of 23 metres.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors voted 20-0 to give the project an exemption under a policy clause that allows height rules to be broken for projects of significant “cultural, social and economic” value.
“I have no reservations whatsoever,” said Coun. Barry Dalrymple (Waverly – Fall River – Beaver Bank). “The sheer preponderance of evidence leading up to tonight and certainly stated in so many elegant and wonderful ways, positive ways. I think the evidence is absolutely overwhelming of public benefit.”
People from all walks of life spoke in favour of the project during the public hearing, from lawyers to teachers and from volunteers to doctors.
“I’m excited for the immense social, health and economic benefits this project will add to our community,” said Cunard Street resident and YMCA member Peter Graham.
“We think this is a good project for Halifax and we support it,” said vice president of the Atlantic Canada Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Luc Erjavec. “Critics will say this project contravenes HRM By Design. In this case it works. HRM By Design anticipated one-off, special projects.”
However, there was a handful of people who also spoke against the proposed development, saying “public good” is a subjective term.
President of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, Peter Delefes, called on council to turn down the proposal, saying the towers would overshadow the Public Gardens and block the view from Citadel Hill.
“The Citadel and Public Gardens are significant public recreation facilities which also confer economic, social and cultural benefits on all citizens of the HRM and on visitors to the city as well,” he said. “The proposed development negatively impact these public benefits in a significant way.”
The YMCA will now launch the search for a developer and a capital campaign to raise funds. Officials will also meet with the city’s design and review committee.
YMCA president and CEO Bette Watson-Borg said having the backing of all the councillors will help them move forward.
“We really believe this is a wonderful thing for our community so to go forward with that kind of unanimity is a really great foundation to be doing the next part of our project,” Waston-Borg told reporters following the meeting.
