29-storey Willow Tree Tower has height restrictions eased by council

A group of Halifax homeowners say council's decision to allow a 29-storey tower at QuinpoolRoadand Robie Street should worry people throughoutthe municipality.

"It has implications for everyone," said Andrea Arbic, a member of the Willow Tree Group. "That, really, the rules that are in place don't mean anything."

• Willow Tree Tower design criticized at public meeting

Halifax councillors instructed city planners on Tuesday to amend the land-use bylaws for the site to increase the maximum height restrictions.

Armco CapitalDevelopments wants to replace the current 10-storey building with a structure that would be only slightly shorter than the Fenwick Tower in the south end.

Critics of the project have expressed concerns the29-storeyproject is too tall for the neighbourhood, saying the looming tower would cast shadows over the southwest corner of the Halifax Common.

City planners recommended 20

City planners recommended limiting the height to 20 storeys. Their report suggested anything higher than that would be more appropriate in the downtown area of the peninsula.

Despite the recommendations and the objections of local residents, the majority of councillors supported changing the rules to allow for 29storeys.

"What's the message to the public?" said Coun.Jennifer Watts, who opposed easing the restrictions."I hear the frustration of people who are hoping for some consistency in a new centre plan but council continues to deal with these one-off developments."

The new development rules for the Armco proposal should be ready by December. There will have to be a public hearing before council has a final vote.