News

Armour Group gets approval for development, Clare Mellor, Chronicle Herald March 26,2009

Armour Group gets approval for development

By CLARE MELLOR Staff Reporter
Thu. Mar 26 - 4:07 PM

A proposal for a new nine-storey office and retail building in downtown Halifax has been given a green light by Nova Scotia’s Utility and Review Board.

The Armour Group’s application for a development agreement for the Waterside Centre , across from Historic Properties, was earlier turned down by HRM Council. However, the Armour Group appealed and a regulatory board released a decision Thursday which overturned that ruling.

“The board finds that the appellant has, on the balance of probabilities, established that council’s decision refusing to enter into the development agreement failed to reasonably carry out the intent of the MPS (Municipal Planning Strategy).

“Further, the board finds that the proposed development agreement does reasonably carry out the intent of the MPS,” the decision says.

At board hearings in January and February, Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia vehemently opposed the proposal, while many business leaders spoke out in favour of it.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said earlier this year that he opposed regional council's decision. But on Thursday, he applauded the URB's ruling.

"I am very happy with this result," Mr. MacDonald said in a news release.

"We need downtown development. We need the office space, and we need the jobs these projects provide, and it will bring more prime office space and economic development to HRM. As well, it will preserve valuable heritage resources."

(cmellor@herald.ca)