Highrises proposed for Dartmouth skyline near Macdonald bridge

DARTMOUTH, N.S. — These three, 33-storey residential towers are pegged as future “icons in the Dartmouth skyline.”

They’re proposed to go up on the Dartmouth waterfront — at 20 Best Street — and will tower above the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel near the Macdonald bridge. They will have 1,035 residential units as well as retail space on the bottom floors.

The developer is Manga Hotels, which operates a number of hotel, residential and restaurant properties across the country, including The Atlantica Hotel in Halifax. 

Fathom Studio of Dartmouth is applying (on behalf of Manga) to the municipality for a site plan approval for the project.

Looking for an exception

The current Regional Centre Land Use Bylaw states the buildings must have a maximum width and depth of 64 metres, which means the three highrises wouldn’t be able to be connected through their bases. Instead, they would have to be divided into three different parcels.

By connecting the bases, “the development to proceed as envisioned,” according to the project’s website. But it won’t change the height of the buildings or their density.

Even if they don’t get the site plan approval, the project managers say it will still go ahead.

“Without the site plan approval, the buildings will still be able to be built as-of-right under the Regional Centre Land Use Bylaw,” they wrote on the project’s website. “The only difference is that without the site plan approval, the three buildings will be separated at their base and the property will have to be subdivided into multiple parcels.”

The main entrances will be off of Best and Mott Streets and most parking will be underground.

Development application under review

Klara Needler, HRM spokeswoman, said they have received a development permit application for the project and it is currently under review.

“The permit has not been issued. No application to vary the land-use bylaw requirements has been received at this time,” Needler wrote in an email.

Under the bylaw, public information and consultation is required before a developer can apply for a variance. That requirement includes a website and a “weather-proof sign on the development site.” The website must be operational for two weeks before an application can be submitted and the developer must submit a complete record of the feedback with the application.

Next steps

Needler said there are a few possibilities for the next steps: that revisions or additional information will need to be submitted to go with the development permit, that the permit could be refused, or that the developer issues a site plan approval and request for a variation from the bylaw requirements.

If the development permit is approved by HRM staff, it can proceed “as-of-right” under the Centre Plan if the project meets the requirements of the land-use bylaw, skipping a public hearing and community committee approval.

Requests for interviews with Manga Hotels and Fathom Studio were not answered on Monday.