Jim Bezanson to speak against Saint John heritage bylaw changes
Saint John council will hold a special public hearing on Thursday to push through bylaw changes to allow Irving Oil Ltd. to proceed with construction of an 11-storey office tower on King's Square.
And Jim Bezanson, the neighbouring landowner whose appeal has delayed the project, said he will be there to once again speak against the planned changes.
Bezanson's position is not a popular one in a city hungry for development.
He says he's received threats though his door and over the phone and now sleeps with a baseball bat.
"I think it's important to participate," said Bezanson.
"I think everybody has a responsibility to participate in the decisions that shape the future of their community."
The building is in a heritage zone and does not meet the rules as they are now set out.
Bezanson said the building is too tall and set too far back from the sidewalk to satisfy heritage requirements.
He also said the city's Heritage Development Board did not have the authority to grant the project the variance to give it a green light.
Irving-only rules
The proposed changes to the bylaw would effectively make new rules specifically for Irving Oil's property at 30 King's Square South.
They are being pushed through on a three-week timeline, an extraordinary step in a process that would normally, according to city staff, take two to three months.
It is expected council will give first and second readings to the bylaw changes Thursday and third and final reading at Monday night's final meeting before the May 9 municipal election.
The city's Heritage Development Board effectively signed off on the changes last Wednesday when it voted unanimously to "provide no further advice" on the proposed amendment.
Bezanson said keeping the bylaw the way it is provides certainty for people who wish to invest in heritage properties.
"Changing the bylaw is not going to provide greater certainty, it's going to provide the exact opposite," said Bezanson.
He suggests the Irving Oil project may threaten his own plans to construct a new building on a nearby vacant lot on Princess Street.
Bezanson said he plans to incorporate sandstone blocks salvaged during the demolition of Stone Church Hall into a four -to-six unit apartment house.
Irving Oil did not respond when asked if someone from the company will speak at Thursday's public hearing on the proposed bylaw changes.
