Councillors paid tribute to the outgoing planning director dubbed the brains behind the city’s Waterfront renaissance.
Executive director of city development, Mike Galloway, attended his final council meeting on Monday before his retirement.
Mr Galloway joined Dundee City Council in 1997 and is heralded as one of the leading lights behind the ambitious £1 billion make-over, the focal point of which opened to the public amid much fanfare at the weekend.
Thousands of visitors have already waltzed through the doors of the V&A Dundee following a launch party on Friday night, televised on the BBC.
Mr Galloway featured on the programme, fronted by Fife’s Edith Bowman, where he explained his involvement in the Waterfront.
On Monday, at a meeting of the city council’s planning committee, Mr Galloway thanked members for “sometimes taking (his) advice” in regard to development matters.
Planning committee convener Will Dawson noted Mr Galloway’s 40 years of public service.
He said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Mike Galloway in my time on the council.
“I do not think this will be the last we will be seeing of him. I would like to give him a round of a applause to thank him for all he has done for the city.”
Mr Galloway said: “I have lots of memories from working in Dundee and I have really enjoyed working with (the elected members) of this committee and I thank you for listening to my advice, and sometimes following it.
“It is really important in Dundee that all elected members are on the planning committee, which is not the norm on other councils.”
Members refused planning permission for two developments on Monday night.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
The first, an application to reconfigure land on the City Quay at Dundee One for car parking space, was knocked back unanimously by councillors.
Planning officers had recommended the application be refused, as it failed a number of policies in the local development plan.
Nine letters of objection had been received, as well as a letter of support from the City Centre and Harbour Community Council.
Convener Will Dawson questioned why more was not being done to encourage staff currently working at the building to park at the council-owned Olympia multi-storey.
A second proposal, for planning approval in principle for a residential development on the site of the former whisky bottling plant on Kingsway East was also refused.
Persimmon Homes had hoped for permission to build 90 “affordable” homes on the area, formerly occupied by the Stewarts Cream of the Barley whisky bottling plant and now marked as brown field land.
Ian Goldrick, represnting the Perth-based building company, told members the demand for affordable housing in the area was high, while supply was relatively low.
He said the firm had received more than 200 inquiries, the vast majority from people who still wanted to live in the immediate area.
Convener Will Dawson moved for the application to be refused, following advice from council officers that it was contrary to the council’s development plan.
He said the space was being earmarked for economic and industrial use, due to its proximity to the city’s port, deeming the land unsuitable for housing.
Councillor Lynne Short tabled an amendment seeking to approve the bid, which was seconded by Councillor Kevin Cordell.
The amendment was defeated by 17 votes to six.
