By Mike Howell, on November 6th, 2017
A development company whose condo proposal for Chinatown was rejected by city council in June was rejected again Monday by the city’s development permit board in a 2-1 vote.
Beedie Development Group had revised its 12-storey proposal for its property at 105 Keefer St. to nine storeys in an attempt to get approval from the development permit board.But board members Jerry Dobrovolny, who is the city’s chief engineer, and Gil Kelley, the city’s director of planning, rejected the application for reasons based primarily on design.
Paul Mochrie, the city’s deputy city manager, supported the project, saying the application met the requirements of existing zoning regulations.
In providing reasons for their decisions, Dobrovolny and Kelley also referred to the widespread opposition to Beedie’s project from hundreds of people who spoke at the public hearings in May and June, and more than 100 who spoke last week to the board.
“We heard from a very engaged, passionate public,” said Dobrovolny as more than 150 people at city hall listened to him speak. “There were some different views about what the right thing to do was. But clearly all of the speakers cared a great deal about Chinatown, cared about its heritage, they cared about its cultural significance.”
Share: 
