HALIFAX—After hearing from dozens of people over more than six hours, councillors approved three big developments for peninsular Halifax Wednesday night.

Halifax regional council held three public hearings for the proposals, sitting till after midnight.

The most controversial of the three, an eight-storey plus penthouse building on Wellington St. in South End Halifax, passed by a vote of 11-3, with councillors Waye Mason, Lindell Smith and Sam Austin voting against the proposal.

Mason, the councillor for the area, asked his colleagues to vote down the proposal from Lydon Lynch Architects, on behalf of BANC Developments Limited, aiming to send it back to lose some density. Though the proposal doesn’t adhere to current or future municipal planning rules, staff recommended in favour of the building.

Most of the people who spoke at the public hearing, 15 of 25, were in favour of the proposal, arguing Halifax needs more housing to meet growing demand as population rises and vacancy rates fall. The remaining 10 speakers cited concerns around traffic, the approval process and the proposal not fitting the rules.

Banc Developments’ Alex Halef told councillors he’d aim to start construction of the building, with a total of 101 residential units, within six months.

The other two proposals were less controversial for councillors, but were not without their detractors.

A proposal from ZZap Consulting Incorporated on behalf of Eldorado Properties Limited — a redevelopment and addition to the corner of South Park St. and Victoria Rd. — passed by a vote of 13-1, with Councillor Tim Outhit voting against the proposal.

The renovation of the existing eight-storey building at that corner will add 36 units to the existing 52. It will also add commercial space to the ground floor on South Park St.

Five nearby residents spoke out against the project. They were concerned about the loss of two houses to make way for the addition, the loss of trees and the addition of commercial space to the street.

A third proposal from WM Fares Architects for a 72,000-square-foot property between Bayers Rd. and Young St. passed unanimously. That project will see three structures built in the area totalling more than 100 units: a six-storey apartment building, a three-storey apartment building, and a row of townhouses.

Residents were split between welcoming more density in the area and concerns about traffic and the safety of children in the neighbourhood.

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