'Twisted Sisters' debate resumes before regulator

A heritage group fired off its opening salvo Monday to prevent 27-storeytwin towers from going up in downtown Halifax.

A hearing before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board began Monday with opening argumentsintothe $150-million proposal by United Gulf Developments.

The company wants to build two 27-storey towers at the old Tex-Park site at Sackville and Hollis streets to house a hotel, condominiums and offices.

Because of itscurvy combination of glass, copper and stone, theproject has been nicknamedthe Twisted Sisters.

But heritage groups argue that the towerswouldn't fit in with the other buildings in the area.

"The proportion of the towers to the adjacent and existing buildings is so out of whack that it cannot be said to be complementary at all," said Ronald Pink, lawyer for the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.

Pink also told the review board that the towers woulddestroy the view from Citadel Hill, something, he said, is supposed to be protected by local development rules.

He intends to call six expert witnesses to back up his arguments.

Halifax regional council approved the proposal last March. But a number of groups opposed to the project appealed that decision to the utility and review board.

Karen Brown, the municipality's lawyer, said Monday the rules are flexible enough to give councillors some say over new development.

"This case," she said, "is about how council must balance the competing interests that often exist in the municipal planning strategy and that define Halifax's central business district."

The lawyer for United Gulf Developments didn't make an opening statement, but Robert Grant said he intends to call seven experts of his own to make the case for the company's project.

The hearing is expected to last two weeks.