As much as 100,000 tonnes of contaminated soil is not enough to stop a large housing development near the Armdale Rotary.

Environment Department spokeswoman Valerie Bellefontaine said cleanup plans have been approved for a proposed development on vacant land in the Fairmount subdivision, owned by Butler Brothers Ltd.

The 30-acre site, located behind Springvale School, is for sale, with a prospective buyer looking at developing about 150 single-family homes.

With views of Chocolate Lake, the Northwest Arm and Chebucto Head, it’s likely one of the most valuable large pieces of undeveloped property left in the city, said Armdale Councillor Linda Mosher.

Because the land is zoned residential, the development would be considered “as of right,” said Mosher, and would require no approval from Halifax council.

Bellefontaine said the Environment Department inspected the site and found soil contamination levels exceed residential soil-quality guidelines. The contamination is mainly petroleum and metals.

Real-estate economist Clayton Research said, with an ever-shrinking supply of developable land in central areas, contaminated land is looking more and more attractive to developers.

Company vice-president Robert Feldgaier said that trend is being seen across Canada, both in large cities and small towns.

Peter Butler, president of Butler Bros,. which was incorporated in 1924, said his father bought the Fairmount subdivision land about 50 years ago. He said the family always planned to extend the subdivision into the land in question, but never did.

“And now it’s like everything else these days. If you leave something too long, then the Environment (Department) or somebody else comes in and tells you that you’re land is all full of pollution,” he said.

Butler said while some construction material may have “spilled” at the site over the years, “there’s no vast amount of pollution there.”

Glenn Clarke, director of Longwave Enterprises Ltd., who wants to buy and develop the Butler property, did not return calls, but his lawyer did.

“They’re fully aware of the environmental issues,” said Harry Thompson of Goldberg Thompson.