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Council approved a second tower against its planners’ recommendation Monday, leading some councillors to question if they’ve spiked Edmonton’s ability to negotiate with developers in the future.

City planners opposed the 45-storey Emerald Tower because they say the developer is getting a $50-million increase in land value without enough benefit going back to the neighbourhood.

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But council approved it anyway, the second time this spring they’ve over-ruled their planning experts. Council approved the 16-storey Mezzo tower off Whyte Avenue against their planners’ advice in April.

“We’re going to see a race to the bottom on this,” warned Coun. Ben Henderson, worried council just lost its ability to convince the next developer to put parking underground. “We really run the risk of undermining everything else that goes forward here.”

“We have now slipped on our standards,” said Coun. Scott McKeen, urging his colleagues to be “tough negotiators.”