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Inclusionary Zoning Takes New Turn While Pittsburgh Addresses Failing Fleet and Preserves Landmarks

City Council

The saga of inclusionary zoning takes another plot twist.

An effort to require affordable units in large new or renovated developments has stalled again. Council voted 5-4 for an amendment that would instead offer developers tax breaks and faster approvals to include them voluntarily. That sent the bill back to the Planning Commission, which has 90 days to review it. After that, council has 120 days to hold a public hearing before its vote.

Written by Amy Whipple

An effort to mandate affordable housing in large new or renovated developments has been stalled again. City council voted 5-4 to amend the inclusionary zoning (IZ) legislation, which sent the bill back to the Planning Commission.

Council Member Erika Strassburger of Squirrel Hill North proposed the new amendment, which would give tax breaks and expedited approvals to developers that choose to include affordable units rather than mandating them.

Council, Mayor Ed Gainey and the Planning Commission have been debating IZ legislation for more than a year. The commission’s most recent recommendation — which Gainey wants — calls for 10 percent of units to be affordable in new or renovated developments of 20 or more homes.

IZ unit prices cannot exceed 30 percent of a household’s income. Eligible households cannot earn more than 50 percent of AMI for rentals or more than 80 percent for purchase.

Proponents say that mandatory inclusion will help curb gentrification. Opponents say it will halt development. Council Member Anthony Coghill of Beechview said while all members of council recognize the need for affordable housing, they differ on the approach.

In January, the Planning Commission formally opposed legislation from Council Member Bob Charland of the South Side that would have given individual neighborhoods the power to determine whether low-income units had to be included in new developments. It also would have made the city or its development agencies compensate developers for the lost revenue. Council rejected the bill in July.

Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Polish Hill and the majority of Oakland already have inclusionary zoning.

The commission has 90 days to consider the new amendments. Council then has 120 days to hold a public hearing ahead of its vote.

City Council

City’s vehicle fleet barely limping along.

To replace its older, high-mileage vehicles, the city would need about $22 million a year, according to its fleet manager. An Oct. 15 report, the first of its kind, found police, EMS, and trash vehicles are the most overused. The fleet manager recommended speeding up their replacement. Council's budget director suggested a dedicated fleet fund, but council didn't plan any immediate action.

Written by Amy Whipple

The inaugural fleet oversight report painted a picture of despair.

Peter McDevitt, council’s budget director, told council at a post agenda meeting, “I have a legitimate fear that we are past the point of no return.”

A May post agenda already sounded the alarms about the city’s emergency vehicle fleets.

The Oct. 15 report revealed that police, EMS, and refuse dominate vehicle overutilization (more than 15,000 miles per year). Firmin Maurice IV, the city’s fleet manager, recommended prioritizing these fleets for accelerated replacement.

The city plans to purchase 50 vehicles next year, McDevitt said, 20 of which will be for the police. The report showed that the police department has more than twice as many vehicles as the next largest department which is the Department of Public Works.

To bring the city’s fleets up to speed, Maurice said it would need to spend about $22 million per year to replace older, high-mileage vehicles. Those vehicles account for a disproportionate number of repair dollars.

McDevitt suggested the city create a dedicated fund for fleet management, as it has done with housing and violence prevention. Council Member Anthony Coghill of Beechview recommended increasing the number of leased vehicles. Council did not plan any immediate action.

City Council

Coghill finds money to repair a playground and buy a garbage truck.

Brookline Memorial Park's busy playground has broken equipment, some of it roped off, a council member said. Now, he wants to spend $415,000 in interest savings on playground upgrades and a garbage truck. Still, a 2023 controller's analysis ranked the park near the bottom of the priority list. Another council member said her district needs playground upgrades too.

Written by Amy Whipple

Council Member Anthony Coghill of Beechview wants to use $415,000 saved on lower interest payments to buy a garbage truck and for Brookline Memorial Park playground upgrades.

This is the second week in a row that a council member has presented a workaround to compensate for a lack of Department of Public Works vehicles.

The trash vehicle for DPW costs $165,000 and would complement Coghill’s recent request for $9,000 to purchase trash cans.

The other $250,000 be spent on playground upgrades. According to Coghill, the busy playground has broken equipment, some of which is roped off, and worn-out surfacing. He said the city didn’t allot any capital improvements for his district.

Peter McDevitt, city council’s budget director, said the requested money will come from a $3 million surplus in the operating budget from lower-than-anticipated interest rates.

Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park expressed frustration because her district needs playground upgrades as well.

The Brookline playground Coghill wants to renovate is near the bottom of the list for parks that need to be upgraded: A 2023 controller’s analysis gave Brookline Memorial Park a 103 out of 135 priority ranking.

In 2019, voters approved a dedicated tax fund for park improvements. The fund came under council scrutiny when $1.6 million went to replacing park maintenance vehicles.

City Council

Three Sisters Bridges, Schenley Park and Pump Stations are on the verge of historic designations.

The Three Sisters bridges, two pump stations, and Schenley Park are close to gaining historic protection. Council gave them preliminary approval, and final designation is expected next week. Separately, a pending nomination already protects the former Office of Municipal Investigations building, which council approved selling in June. Council plans a public hearing on it, though no date is set.

Written by Amy Whipple

Pittsburgh has a long history and now more of it is about to be designated as “historic.”

Five structures and one park are on track to be designated historic by city council at next week’s legislative meeting. The Three Sisters — the Roberto Clemente Bridge (Sixth Street), the Andy Warhol Bridge (Seventh Street), and the Rachel Carson Bridge (Ninth Street) connecting Downtown to the North Side— the Ross and Aspinwall Pump Stations in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, and Schenley Park in Squirrel Hill all received preliminary approval. Historic designation conveys a level of protection to the structures.

Preservation Pittsburgh has also nominated the former Office of Municipal Investigations building in the Strip District for historic designation, which means it cannot be altered without the approval of the Historic Review Commission.

The pending nomination was filed May 28 and conveys the same protection as if the designation was approved. In June council approved selling the OMI building to the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

According to Council President R. Daniel Lavelle of the Upper Hill District at the Oct. 15 committee meeting, the URA had not been notified of the nomination. He said if they had “they probably wouldn’t have agreed to engage in the transaction.”

According to Council Member Bobby Wilson of Spring Hill, one party interested in purchasing the property from the URA would convert the site to a parking lot. Historic preservation standards would require the Historic Review Commission’s approval before demolition.

Council plans to hold a public hearing on the building’s designation, but a date has not yet been set.