Planning Commission Meeting Summary - October 6, 2026

On October 6, 2026, Pittsburgh Planning Commission held hearing and action on one zoning map amendment in Banksville and gave preliminary approval to five plans of lots. There was no briefing session. Here’s what happened, by case.

Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSRwhHs9VwI

Hearing and Action

DCP-MPZC-2026-00219 — 1070 Banksville Avenue (Banksville)

City materials: Presentation · Proposed zoning map · Meeting agenda

Summary of Case

Zoning map amendment for parcel 16-E-25, the site of the Fraternal Order of Police banquet hall. The parcel is split-zoned, with Neighborhood Industrial (NDI) along Banksville Avenue and Parks (P) covering a large rear portion. The amendment would put the whole parcel in NDI. Zoning Administrator Carolyn Ristau said the split doesn’t follow an old lot line, so staff dug into the site’s history. The rear portion held the Alpark Terrace mobile home park from sometime between 1939 and 1957 until roughly the 2000s or 2010s. It was mapped in the 1958 code’s “Special” district, which became Parks and Open Space (today’s P district) in the 1999 code rewrite. The front portion was in the M1 industrial district in 1958, like the land across the street, which was later rezoned as a planned unit development. The front building got a 1981 occupancy permit for small electrical equipment manufacturing. In 2009, the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved office and social hall use with a special exception for parking in the P portion, conditioned on City Planning review of the parking plan. The lot was built, but no final certificate of occupancy was ever issued for it. Staff recommended a positive recommendation to City Council. The case was briefed on September 22, 2026.

Discussion

No public testimony in the room. Lori Marabello of Councilmember Kim Salinetro’s office spoke online in support on the Councilmember’s behalf. Commissioners had no questions or comments.

Decision

Positive recommendation to City Council, unanimous. Motion by David Vatz, seconded by Diamonte Walker. Roll call ayes: LaShawn Burton-Faulk, Justin Hunt, Gerardo Interiano, Rachel O’Neill, Peter Quintanilla, Bob Reppe, David Vatz, and Diamonte Walker. Darrin Kelly didn’t answer roll call and didn’t vote. Staff noted that with a positive recommendation, Council needs a simple majority to pass the bill. A negative recommendation would have required a supermajority.

Also on the Agenda

Plan of Lots — five preliminary approvals

City materials: Case packet · Meeting agenda

Daniel Scheppke of City Planning presented all five. Four involve City-owned water-system property. There was no public testimony on any of them. Each got preliminary approval, with final review scheduled for October 20, 2026.

DCP-LOT-2026-00245 — Freeport Road (Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar): consolidates five parcels into two. Lot 1 (about 899,000 sq. ft., fronting Delafield Avenue) holds St. Margaret’s Hospital, and Lot 2 (about 1.79 million sq. ft., fronting Route 28) holds water treatment infrastructure. Rachel O’Neill abstained; the other seven present voted aye.

DCP-LOT-2026-00246 — 7881 Lock Way (Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar): splits one parcel into three (about 215,900, 72,500, and 12,700 sq. ft.) around PWSA’s Bruecken Pump Station. Approved unanimously.

DCP-LOT-2026-00247 — 3446 Milwaukee Street (Upper Hill): splits the Herron Hill Reservoir property into two lots (about 210,700 and 285,300 sq. ft.). Approved unanimously.

DCP-LOT-2026-00248 — 672 Science Street (Allentown): splits a water storage tank property into two lots (about 94,800 sq. ft. on Science Street and 703,300 sq. ft. fronting Bailey Avenue). Approved unanimously.

DCP-LOT-2026-00238 — River Avenue (North Shore): consolidates four parcels into two (about 27,600 and 41,900 sq. ft.) on a site with a four-story office building, a one-story industrial building, and a surface parking lot. Rachel O’Neill abstained; the others present voted aye.

Minutes and Correspondence

The Commission approved the July 28, 2026 minutes. The Commission received correspondence from Oakland Planning and Development Corporation on Council Bill 2026-0714 (the UC-E multi-suite residential text amendment), plus correspondence on Council Bill 2025-1545 (housing needs assessment) and on a conditional use application on Banksville Road that wasn’t on this agenda. There was no Director’s Report.

Summary prepared with the assistance of AI from the public YouTube recording. This is not an official City of Pittsburgh record.