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Pittsburgh City Council

Community groups may be out of the business of organizing neighborhood development meetings.

Written by Amy Whipple

Council Member Theresa Kail-Smith of Westwood proposed suspending the city’s use of registered community organizations (RCOs) to manage community meetings with developers.

In 2018 city council passed legislation that gives RCOs the responsibility of coordinating neighborhood meetings required for developers and property owners who want to make changes to their properties that require approvals from city commissions. For example, they organize neighborhood public meetings regarding major developments but also for public art or changes in historic districts. In Larimer the neighborhood RCO, the Larimer Consensus Group, negotiated a community benefits agreement with Walnut Capital for its Bakery Square expansion.

Kail-Smith said she thinks the city is overreliant on nonprofits during the Oct. 8 meeting, adding she wants commissions and departments to coordinate with council members instead.

Council President R. Daniel Lavelle of the Upper Hill District said he talked with the Planning Department about changes to the 2018 ordinance and that members of the department would like to raise the standard for what changes trigger a development activities meeting. The department also wants to organize the meetings instead of relying on community groups, then allow the RCOs to weigh in on whether or not it supports the change after the meetings.

The Planning Department asked for a two-week hold on the suspension so it can complete the amendments and meet with RCOs. Council agreed to the request.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
R. Daniel Lavelle
Topics:
Housing & Land Use
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · October 7, 2025
Sources:
Ordinance 2025-2109 — amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title One, Administrative, Article Nine, Boards…

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