Saint John council has rejected a 170-unit development being proposed in the Millidgeville neighbourhood.
Councillors voted to turn down the project Monday evening following a public hearing in council chambers.
It came after they heard objections from a number of residents living near the proposed site at 421 Woodward Avenue.
The main concerns included noise, traffic and safety, as well as the height of the two six-storey buildings.
“We submit the shear scale and height of the proposed development is too large, does not complement the existing profile and character of the neighbourhood, and would overwhelm the existing residential dwellings in the immediate area,” resident Danny Kaye told council during the public hearing.
The height of the proposed buildings was also a concern brought up by a number of councillors.
Coun. Greg Stewart said he feels as though this is too tall for this particular neighbourhood.
“It needs to be four stories, and if you need to go wider on that, I would be OK with the wider footprint,” said Stewart.
“Yes, it’s more rock crushing, yes, you’ve got to go back to the drawing board, but you can make it work.”
Amit Mendiratta, the B.C.-based developer behind the project, also appeared before council to answer questions.
Mendiratta said reducing the height of the buildings to four storeys would mean the project is no longer financially sustainable.
“We have looked at it and it’s very difficult to do with lesser numbers,” he said in response to a question from Coun. Gerry Lowe, who also wanted to see the maximum height lowered to four storeys.
Lowe and Stewart voted against the rezoning, along with councillors Greg Norton, Barry Ogden and Gary Sullivan. Councillors Mariah Darling, Brent Harris and Paula Radwan voted in favour.
Mayor Donna Reardon, who only votes in a tie, reacted in shock when the rezoning was denied. During the discussion, she gave her support for the project.
“Cities are designed to grow up, and that’s what we haven’t done in Saint John. It’s the right way to grow. The last thing you want to do is take up more and more of your land,” she said.
