JAG Hotel public hearing cancelled

Decision ‘unfortunate,’ says heritage advocate

Jerry Dick had hoped to attend a public hearing to discuss a proposed expansion of the JAG Hotel in downtown St. John’s Monday evening at city hall.

And perhaps others did, too, he said. But none will get the chance, as the hearing was called off Monday morning.

“Interesting,” the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador executive director said when informed by The Telegram that the hearing had been cancelled. The city had scheduled the hearing for 7 p.m. Monday at city hall regarding a rezoning application submitted by Fougere Menchenton Architecture, on behalf of Steele Hotels Ltd., for 69 additional rooms for the hotel and a 1,400-seat concert hall at 9 Buchanan St., and 426 and 430 Water St.

The rezoning would allow a maximum height of 10 storeys for the proposed development.

On its website and through public notices, the city had indicated last week that if no written objections were received by 9:30 a.m. Monday, the hearing “may be cancelled in accordance with the provisions of the Urban and Rural Planning Act.”

When no submissions were received, at 10 a.m. on Monday, the city announced the hearing was off.

While the Heritage Foundation’s concern is more about the proposed design of the building, Dick said keeping the public informed about all plans for the project is crucial.

“Having good public consultations processes is really important — in particular, getting early input before a lot of decisions are made,” said Dick, who noted his group made a presentation to council a few weeks ago about the impacts of development on the historic character of downtown.

“To hear there’s not going to be an opportunity for public input is, I think, unfortunate.”

Dick said he was surprised the hearing was cancelled.

“I just would’ve assumed that setting the public meeting would be the opportunity for the public to provide input,” he said.

“I’m not sure people were aware that they needed to put in written comments prior to that meeting in order to justify it.”

A public meeting was held during the summer when the Land Use Assessment Report for the proposed development was completed, but there’s also a requirement under the Urban and Rural Planning Act to have a public hearing with a commissioner present.

“But if there’s no submissions for that by the deadline, which is usually two days before the scheduled hearing, then the hearing is cancelled,” Mayor Danny Breen explained after the regular Monday council meeting.

He said it’s “not unusual” for hearings to be cancelled.

“It happens in many cases because it’s gone through the process, and usually, in many cases, people don’t have any submissions to make, so then it’s cancelled.”

Breen said he believes it is known that people need to make written submissions in order for a public hearing to go ahead.

During the go-around at the end of the council meeting, Coun. Maggie Burton asked city manager Ken O’brien if council can hold another public hearing if concerns are brought forward on the day of the hearing.

O’brien said the next step in the process is coming up soon, indicating it’s not feasible.

Breen said the proposed development has already gone through “pretty significant” public engagement.

“I don’t anticipate that there’ll be further public hearings on the issue,” Breen said.