Lawyer argues Nova Centre exemption could create two-tiered system
Posted Nov 28, 2014 07:16:14 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A lawyer said the provincial government risks creating a two-tiered development process after letting the Nova Centre get around municipal planning bylaws.
In July 2013, Argyle Development’s Joe Ramia wanted to start construction before obtaining site plan approval, so council asked the province to consider issuing a statement of provincial interest and create an interim planning-area order.
The minister of municipal affairs ended up issuing the order, and a provincial lawyer said they had the authority to do so.
This gave Ramia the green light to start working on the underground portion of the structure.
Victor Goldberg with Thiel family real estate firms told The Chronicle Herald, Halifax’s charter and the Municipal Government Act were not intended to create a back door, two-tier scheme.
He told the paper this leaves the minister with not only a veto power over development rules, but the ability to ignore and override the acts themselves.
He added he’s not looking to halt construction of the convention centre, but is looking for a declaration that the orders issued are unlawful.
