Halifax regional council rejected a staff recommendation to kill a two-building, 48-storey project planned for downtown Halifax.

Municipal staff warned that moving forward with “Skye Halifax,” the offspring of the failed “Twisted Sisters” project for 1591 Granville St., would require substantial alterations to municipal planning documents.

The proposed project is approximately 150 metres tall, while the Downtown Halifax Plan limits buildings on the property to 66 metres. Staff noted the project also negatively affects the view from Citadel Hill’s ramparts.

If allowed, the changes would essentially undermine the authority and intention of municipal planning documents, according to staff and some councillors.

“I’m shocked, really, that we’re going in this direction,” said veteran Coun. Bob Harvey.

“A lot of hours, a lot of days, a lot of years spent on HRM by Design, (which) was supposed to be the end of the height debate.”

Andy Fillmore, one of the leads on HRM by Design and the municipality’s manager of urban design, said the current planning documents ended years of confusion and uncertainty about development in the downtown core ‘ and development has drastically increased as a result.

“The plan is working,” said Fillmore.

Some councillors were unconvinced.

“I’m not going to be put into a corner by a document that may or may not represent what I or others feel the future holds,” said Coun. Steve Streatch.

Developers United Gulf will now have to complete several more studies, including shadow and wind effect reports, before the project moves forward.