Emotions have been running high since Irving Oil's home-office project has been indefinitely put on hold, pending a hearing with the province's Assessment and Planning Appeal Board.

Saint John heritage architect and developer Jim Bezanson says he has been threatened with physical violence since formally launching his appeal, and now sleeps with a baseball bat.

"It has taken its toll, there's no doubt about that … there are some things coming through my door and over my phone," Bezanson said Monday in an interview with Information Morning Saint John.

"I still believe in my right to participate as a citizen in a free and democratic society. I didn't ask for this … neither did Mr. [Arthur] Irving."

Bezanson argues the 11-storey headquarters building proposed for Kings Square south is too tall and set too far back from the sidewalk, and therefore does not comply with existing heritage preservation bylaws.

Presently, the tallest building in the area is the Admiral Beatty Hotel at eight stories.

"Everybody has their line in the sand … for me, when I invested my several million dollars in buildings within a block of the proposed development, I did so based on the notion the bylaws that were in place provided the surety of investment I was making in my community," said Bezanson.

"The proposal is too much for me … If I'm going to have the jeopardize, then so too is everyone else, that also invested money in the area."

Withdrawal of appeal considered

In a separate news release, Bezanson said he is willing to withdraw his appeal against the Heritage Development Board, if it can prove it has the legal authority to grant a variance regarding the project's height and setback.

"I [previously] suggested to both the Board and the Irving group that they refer the matter to council for a bylaw amendment, as is what's happening right now," he said.

I am neither anti-Irving or anti-development. I feel bad for the Irvings because they're stuck in the middle. - Jim Bezanson, heritage architect

"Sorry guys, the bylaw does not provide for the Board to grant a variance to the guidelines."

Bezanson says he would also consider a withdrawal of his appeal if he is given an opportunity to share his design for the site "which meets the regulations and bylaws."

He says his design would accommodates up to 1,500 employees if desired, uses a similar design aesthetic and has components of the building at similar heights as the Admiral Beatty.

"I am neither anti-Irving or anti-development. I feel bad for the Irvings because they're stuck in the middle. They got bad advice from their design team, from city staff, and the Heritage Board," Bezanson said.

City may rewrite heritage bylaw

The rally in support of the new Irving Oil headquarters in uptown Saint John brought attracted about 200 people. (CBC) In the meantime, Saint John city council will be asked to push through changes to the city's Heritage Conservation bylaw at a special meeting on Monday.

The proposed change would simply write new heritage rules specifically for the Irving-owned properties on Kings Square south.

It would give the planned home office building a fresh green light for construction by May 2.

The company claims work was supposed to start on the building site last week.

Supporters of Irving's design for its new headquarters held a rally in Kings Square on Friday.

The current status of when the appeal will be heard is not yet known. In an e-mail last week, city spokesperson Lisa Caissie said city staff are working to provide the appeal board with the information it requires.