Lake Banook apartment proposal rejected

Several Dartmouth-area councillors have killed a proposal for a 15-storey apartment building near Lake Banook.

The Harbour East community council voted Tuesday against rezoning the property, at the corner of Prince Albert Road and Glenwood Avenue. It means the proposal won't proceed to the public hearing phase.

Alexander MacLeod was one of the Dartmouth residents who packed the room for the vote. He's pleased the development is not going ahead.

"We're actually completely in favour of increasing density in the area. This was just a question of scale. Anybody who saw a picture of this building beside a single family house would understand that," he said.

Others argued the building would be good for the neighbourhood.

Nancy Radcliffe lives across the street from the proposed development site. She's disappointed there was no public hearing.

"We didn't have the opportunity to go through the proper democratic process. For some reason, our councillor decided to shut it down before we even had a chance to speak," she said.

"This would have been a wonderful addition, not just for our community, but for the many retirees or seniors who would have had the opportunity to move into that building or stay in the community when they can no longer care for their homes," she added.

Coun. Gloria McCluskey, who represents the area, said she was satisfied that she had heard from residents.

"If you stick a 15-storey building on the corner of a street with all residential houses, can you tell me that's compatible for the area? No," McCluskey said.

Developer Tony Maskine is disappointed with the outcome. He's reviewing his next steps.

"The city is crippled on so many levels. There's a negative population growth. And we're not even given the opportunity for an audience? That seems to me like a huge injustice," he said.

Maskine has the right to appeal.