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City officials are for the second time this year saying no to a massive residential tower.

The Emerald Tower, planned for Jasper Avenue and 114 Street, would soar 45 storeys and cast a thin shadow all the way to the north end of 104 Avenue’s Oliver Square in the winter.

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That’s three times the height currently allowed on the empty lot and double the height of most towers in the residential Oliver neighbourhood. It soars above the four- to six-storey condos north of the site that make this already one of the most dense areas of the city. The rezoning application goes to council June 13 for debate.

While the developer argues he needs the height to make the two-bedroom units affordable, the community league worries this will set a precedent and lead to a “canyon wall” along Jasper Avenue, blocking light for thousands of residents. The city says it’s just too much, out of place, and without enough benefits for the neighbourhood.