Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams is in another dispute with the City of St. John's over his Galway development, this time over land to dump excess snow during a bad winter.

Williams said Tuesday the city is withholding residential building permits until DewCor, the company overseeing the development of Galway, agrees to transfer land to the city.

"I know I've been accused of being a fighter, but I've spent months biting my tongue," Williams said Tuesday.

"Bending over backwards to negotiate in good faith ... and I know full well that going to the press today will only further aggravate my relationship with city staff, but honestly they cannot possibly treat us more unfairly."

Some two-storey homes have been built on Galway Boulevard, but developer DewCor says construction of new homes is halted following a dispute with the City of St. John's. (Bruce Tilley/ CBC)

The construction of Costco and other businesses — part of The Shoppes district — are not affected by the dispute.

Williams says the city's actions are unprecedented, and he accused the city of trying to hold DewCor to ransom.

"We've told them there will never be a winter in Galway where we don't provide them with enough space to dump excess snow," he said.

"They have created a whole standard and rule just for us."

'These aren't negotiations,' mayor says

Mayor Danny Breen confirmed the disagreement but said the city has tried to work out a compromise with DewCor.

"We've moved the goal posts, but we've actually moved them down. Initially the agreement was to provide three acres. We've said we're willing to consider a smaller amount."

Mayor Danny Breen sees the dispute over Galway very differently than Danny Williams. Breen says <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofStJohns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityofStJohns</a> is protecting taxpayers and insisting only that Galway conform to existing regulations. <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCNL</a> <a href="https://t.co/rMSRyJZKiG">pic.twitter.com/rMSRyJZKiG</a> —@zachgoudie

Breen said the city offered to start with a one-acre piece of property on land that is not able to be developed because it doesn't have water service.

"We would do that for a period of time until we can get a better handle on the anticipated snowfalls in the area, and then at that time we would expect that the required land, which would be between one and three acres, would be conveyed to the city," he said.

Williams said the city required his company to prepare the land to specifications, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that an eight-foot fence be built around it.

He said DewCor was told it could not use the land for storage when it's not needed for snowclearing because the city wants exclusive rights.

"All developers from time to time have to provide land to the city," Breen said. "We need to have access to the land. We need to be able to manage the land.

"We're certainly willing to discuss use of the land when it's not being used for snow storage, but we certainly do require to have the land conveyed to us."

Galway first development of its kind

Breen agreed this is the first time a developer has been asked to turn over land for snow storage, but said Galway is the first development above what's called the 190-metre contour, which means the land is really high up.

"There hasn't been an agreement. The conditions haven't been met for the regulations, so, unfortunately, we can't issue the building permits."

Danny WIlliams says the City of St. John's is being unreasonable with its demands over a three-acre piece of land to dump snow. (Zach Goudie/CBC)

It would be expensive to truck snow to Robin Hood Bay, Breen said, and the city has to protect taxpayers' interests.

Williams told reporters on Tuesday that he "deeply regrets having invested in the City of St. John's" and wishes Premier Dwight Ball would transfer the Galway development to Mount Pearl.

"There's a big assumption there that if the development was in Mount Pearl that Mount Pearl would capitulate to his demands and I don't think that's the case," Breen said.

"These aren't negotiations. We can give a little bit of leeway ... when we know more about snowfall. We need land conveyed to the city."

Breen said the Galway project is important to the city, and denied trying to sabotage it.

"I think this has gone on way too long. We need to move ahead with this development."

Williams says clash with <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofStJohns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityofStJohns</a> means Galway residential construction has ground to a halt. Williams says hundreds of tradespersons are out of work, and the City is taking an unnecessary economic hit. <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCNL</a> <a href="https://t.co/wN4flpb00d">pic.twitter.com/wN4flpb00d</a> —@zachgoudie

In 2015, the City of St. John's said it was prepared to negotiate with DewCor to possibly buy 20 acres of land to be used for a depot and fire hall. That idea was later rejected by the city.

Breen said the city is not angling now for land to build a depot, and that the amount earmarked for snowclearing is way too small for that anyway.

Second dispute with city

Last month, Williams claimed victory in another dispute with the city over Galway.

Williams launched a civil suit against the city, arguing it had exceeded its authority in withholding additional building permits until the former premier agreed to give up his right to take the city to court if any disputes arise.

Williams said he has made three written requests to meet with the entire city council to discuss the latest dispute, but has had no response.