Dozens of frustrated Esquimalt Legion members stomped out of council chambers last night, upset that controversial plans for a

17-storey building to replace the current Admirals Road Legion were caught up in technicalities.

"What, are they waiting for us to die off?" said one elderly man wearing the traditional blue Legion jacket.

The council chamber was packed with Legion members who expected the politicians to move forward with a plan that would see the 622 Admirals Rd. Legion replaced with the 17-storey, 216-unit tower.

The proposed building includes 10 units of veterans housing, which would be owned by the Legion. The municipality would receive

$1.8 million as an amenity for relaxing height restrictions, currently set at 10 storeys in the town's Official Community Plan.

Although the Legion building had support when it came to council in 2008, it got caught up in a review of building heights in the village core. Council has been reviewing that for the past year, while the Legion proposal languished.

Last night, municipal staff recommended that council rescind an earlier motion that put the Legion project on hold pending the review. But shortly before the meeting started -- and before the staff recommendation could be dealt with -- council received figures about the floor-area ratio. The ratio is used to determine the size of a building permitted on a given location in relation to the size of the land.

Councillors said they were loath to adjourn the Legion matter, but that they needed time to digest that figure. Several said the public should be able to review the matter before the issue is dealt with.

It was put off until Monday.

kwestad@tc.canwest.com