An objector has called for a public inquiry into the Bank of Bermuda?s appeal to build a seven-storey building on Front Street.

Seven objectors remain strongly opposed to the bank?s plan, including Rosalind Fox, who told the Ministry of the Environment in a letter received on May 11 that most of the Bank?s ?weighty submission? was ?irrelevant padding?.

?Some years ago I recall a colleague of mine attending a public inquiry into an application in his neighbourhood,? Ms Fox said. ?Why has the Permanent Secretary chosen not to make this appeal the subject of a public inquiry??

Ms Fox also asked whether Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield?s position to consider the appeal had been prejudiced after it was previously reported that former Development Applications Board (DAB) Chair Robin Spencer-Arscott ?mentioned something about a deal having been struck between Government and the bank?.

?Do these comments prejudice the Minister?s position in any way?? Ms Fox asked in her letter. ?If the Minister approves the application on appeal, could a disgruntled objector take the matter further on a point of law??

And she asked whether an error in the DAB?s decision to refuse Planning permission, that incorrectly referred to building height limits based on the Development Plan 1992 and should have said City of Hamilton Plan 2001, rendered the grounds of refusal redundant.

Referring to the bank?s statement that it would ?retain and restore an iconic building on Front Street,? Ms Fox said that she had been under the impression that the bank intended to replace the former Trimingham?s building with a brand new ?out of character? building.

She said the application was not ? as the bank suggested ? ?formulated in concert with the innovation and creativity envisioned by the City of Hamilton Plan 2001,? otherwise the DAB would not have refused it.

The Minister had little option but to deny the appeal and send the architects back to the drawing board, she said.

On March 29, the DAB refused the bank?s application for final Planning approval for a seven-storey mixed use office/commercial building at No?s 39, 41 and 43, Front Street, because it was too big.

However, on April 11, the Bank lodged an appeal ? prepared by Lorraine Huinink of Cooper & Gardner architects ? to the Minister saying the DAB made the wrong decision because tall buildings and small buildings could exist alongside each other in Hamilton.

?The Board has applied the incorrect policies in assessing the impact of the proposed development on the Historic Area,? Ms Huinink said in the appeal.

?The Board has erred in its interpretation of the Plan policies as the Plan allows taller buildings to replace or co-exist with the existing buildings.?

She called the Trimingham?s building a ?vacant site? which would be revitalised by a new building, adding that the plan was supported by the Corporation of Hamilton.

Taller buildings on Front Street and Reid Street were exchanged for ?specific public benefits? while the DAB did not appropriately consider the ?flexibility and creativity? of the Bermuda Plan 1992, she said.

However, objecting architect Ian Gordon told the Ministry on May 11 that the proposal has 1,278 square feet of speciality retail space out of a gross floor area of 107,256 square feet.

?There are other sites in and around Hamilton, which provide the opportunity for the applicant to meet their requirements whilst complying with the Development and Planning Act,? Mr. Gordon said.

Objector Jill Raine told the Ministry on May 4 that the bank?s application was extremely unpopular with ordinary people while tourists expressed dismay at Bermuda?s over-development.

Dejan and Robert Massey also said on May 1 they continued to strongly object to the proposed building.

?We find HSBC?s undermining of the integrity of the Planning Board particularly offensive,? they said.

?The DAB was set up to objectively rule on proposed building sites for the good of Bermuda without the threat of ?Big Business? who by its very nature affords the almighty dollar to take preference over the historic, architectural character of Front Street.?

And objector Ben Nunn suggested on May 11 that the bank apply for two five-storey buildings, one on Front Street and another on Church Street, both with Bermudian architectural features.