Concerns over due process for a proposed expansion of the Premiere Executive Suites has led to a delay for the development that could last months.
St. John’s city council was due to vote Monday on the development, which has garnered plenty of attention from concerned residents in the Signal Hill area.
Development lead Coun. Maggie Burton says councillors who attended a public meeting in May are worried that the developer didn’t get a chance to respond to concerns from residents, so city hall needs a do-over.
“Typically, first the proponent will give a presentation, then the floor opens up for questions and the proponent has an opportunity to respond to those throughout the session,” said Burton.
“Some councillors feel the proponent didn’t get a chance to respond in equal footing with residents, and that happens sometimes.”
Mona Rossiter of the Signal Hill Neighbourhood Association says the 20 or so residents who attended the meeting were surprised by the referral, but it doesn’t change their plan of action.
“We are all for due process, so we will co-operate with whatever process the city puts in place,” said Rossiter.
“We’ll continue our efforts to make it known that this development is inappropriate in the neighbourhood.”
In an application presented to city hall in May 2017, architecture firm Fougere Menchenton Architecture, hired by Premiere, says the plan will “blend seamlessly” into the area. The apartments will be built in a traditional two-story rowhouse style, with underground parking included in the plan.
Residents are worried not so much with the application before city hall, but rather what a necessary rezoning application could mean for future developments in the area. Residents want to encourage more families to move into the area and don’t feel that increased presence of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area are a good thing in the future.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Historic Trust wrote a letter in favour of the development, though there are some concerns over blasting during construction and potential parking impacts in the area.
“This is an excellent design that fits well with the historic fabric of Signal Hill and downtown St. John’s,” reads the letter, submitted on May 16.
“It will be an improvement to the neighbourhood, a densification that is in line with the historic character of the area, and one that respects heritage without mocking it.”
Burton is concerned about having to refer the development back to a public meeting. She says city hall will review the public hearing process to ensure such a situation doesn’t arise again.
“We want to have a conversation at the council meeting about how public meetings are chaired,” said Burton.
“Other cities get external people to host public meetings, so that’s an option we could pursue. This is going to raise some concerns for sure.”
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