Danny Williams claims St. John's acting in 'bad faith' when it comes to Galway development

Former premier Danny Williams is asking the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador to help end an ongoing disputewith the city of St. John's that he says is holding up Galway'sdevelopment.

Williams and his lawyer, Jerome Kennedy,havefiled a court application asking a judge to rule that the city has "exceeded its authority," and order that Galway development agreements be decided by city council, not city staff.

It's the latest battle in Williams's ongoing war with the city.

• Round 1: Danny Williams, City of St. John's in dispute over roundabout near Galway

A war that sources say is holding up a new $30-million-dollarCostco building in Galwayand alist of people waiting to build homes in the west-enddevelopment.

Williams said more than $95-million dollars has been spent on or committed to phase one of the development to date.

He's contended all along that other developers in other parts of the city have received preferentialtreatment.

Last June after a public dispute with the city over who should foot the bill for a roundabout at a Galway entrance, Williams agreed to pay for it.

• Danny Williams does turnaround on Galway roundabout

Application filed

In an application filed to Supreme Court on Thursday, Williams asked that a judge keep the City of St. John's from asking him to give up his right to take the city to court before itissues development permits for Galway.

Williams's company is asking for a declaration that the city has "exceeded its legislative authority by making it a condition to the issuance of a development permit that" his company "relinquish its right to have legal disputes adjudicated."

In the application, Williams allegedthe city acted in bad faith when it refused to provide proper information to requests under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Wants council to decide development agreements

Williamsalso askeda judge to order that city council makedecisions on the granting of Galwaydevelopment agreements.

He is arguing city staff is making those decisions something his application said is contrary to the legislation that governs city council.

On Friday, the City of St. John's issued a news release saying it was served an application regarding the GalwayDevelopment.

The release saidthe lawyers hired by the city will file a detailed defence to the allegations in court.