Presenter
Presented by Ms. Payne
Title
Resolution approving a Conditional Use under the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 911, Section 911.04.A.64 to Craig Academy for authorization to demolish the existing structure and construct a three-story, 55,000 sq. ft. building for use as school for grades 1 through 12 with a maximum of 155 students located at 215 South Negley Avenue, and with a total of 70 parking stalls on property zoned R3-M, Residential Three -Unit, Moderate Density District, 8th Ward.
Body
Whereas the Planning Commission of the City of Pittsburgh has made certain findings with regard to the conditional use application for the proposed new school building for Craig Academy at 215 South Negley Avenue;
Whereas the Planning Commission of the City of Pittsburgh has recommended approval of this application for Conditional Use;
Whereas City Council has reviewed the record of the Planning Commission and herewith adopts the findings and recommendations of the Planning Commission;
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. Upon a review of the record of the record as provided by the Planning Commission of the City of Pittsburgh, it is herewith affirmed that the proposed extension to the elementary school located at 215 South Negley Avenue has properly met the standards as provided in the Pittsburgh Code Section 922.06.E.1 and that the following criteria was considered:
a) That the development will not create detrimental visual impacts, such that the size, and visual bulk of the proposed development is determined to create an incompatible relationship with the surrounding built environment, public streets and open spaces and land use patterns;
b) That the proposed development will not create detrimental transportation impacts, such that the proposed development is determined to adversely affect the safety and convenience of the residential neighborhoods or of the vehicular and pedestrian circulation in the vicinity of the subject tract, including traffic reasonably expected to be generated by the proposed use and other uses in the area given the existing zoning, existing land uses and proposed land uses in the area;
c) That the development will not create detrimental transportation impacts, such that the proposed development will result in traffic volumes or circulation patterns that exceed the capacity of streets or intersections likely to be used by traffic to and from the proposed development;
d) That the development will not create detrimental operational impacts, including potential impacts of hours of operation, management of traffic, servicing and loading operations, and any on-site operations associated with the ongoing functions of the use of the site, in consideration of adjacent and surrounding land uses which may have differing sensitivities to such operational impacts;
e) That the development will not create detrimental health and safety impacts, including but not limited to potential impacts of noise, emissions, or vibrations from the proposed development, or functions within the proposed site which would otherwise affect the health or safety of others as a direst result of the operation of the proposed use,
f) That the development will not create detrimental impacts on the future and potential development of parcels in the vicinity of the proposed site of the development;
g) That the development will not create detrimental impacts on property values.
Section 2. It is further stated that the following findings of the Planning Commission are herewith adopted:
a) That the proposed school building is designed so as to minimize its visual impact on the surrounding area;
b) That the proposed school building will not create detrimental transportation impacts since there will be no significant change in existing transportation patterns;
c) That the proposed school building will not create detrimental transportation impacts that result in traffic volumes that exceed the capacity of streets and intersections since any increase in traffic can be accommodated by the existing streets;
d) That the proposed school building will not create detrimental operational impacts on surrounding land uses since the site is sufficiently large enough to accommodate a new school and all school activities will occur within the site;
e) That the proposed school building will not create detrimental health and safety impacts since the use remains compatible in a residential district;
f) That the proposed use will not create detrimental impacts on the future development in the area since the use is appropriate for the site and no expansion of the site is involved;
g) That the proposed school building will not create detrimental impacts on property values in the area since the structure is easily accommodated by the existing site and the impacts of the use on the surrounding area will not significantly change.
Section 3. Under the provisions of Section 911.04.A.64 of the Pittsburgh Code, approval is hereby granted to Craig Academy, owner, for authorization to demolish the existing structure and construct a three-story, 55,000 square-foot building for use as a school for grades 1 through 12 with a maximum of 150 students located at 215 South Negley Avenue and with a total of 70 parking stalls, on property zoned R3-M, Residential Three-Unit Moderate Density District, 8th Ward, City of Pittsburgh, in accordance with Conditional Use Application No. 728 and accompanying drawings filed by The Design Alliance Architects, which are on file in the Office of the Zoning Administrator, Department of City Planning, and which are incorporated herein by reference thereto; and subject to the following conditions:
1. That an Alternative Access and Parking Plan for off-street parking and a Traffic Study be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator prior to the issuance of a building permit, with the additional condition that the Zoning Administrator evaluate the need for a school zone safety signal.
2. That final plans be reviewed and endorsed by the Contextual Design Advisory Panel.
3. That final construction drawings be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator prior to the issuance of a building permit.
4. That exterior signs be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator prior to the issuance of any sign permits.
5. That the Zoning Administrator review plans for on-street and off-street parking prior to issuance of a building permit.
6. Any building additions with a floor area in excess of 5,000 square feet would require conditional use approval
7. At least one Craig Academy security employee will be dressed in a manner that identifies him/herself as security to the general community. This may be through uniform, hat, badge, or other clear identification.
8. All entrances to the building will be controlled by key card access or other magnetic locked-door and/or call access security measure.
9. All unmanned exits will be equipped with an alarm.
10. Craig Academy will agree to participate in a community association that meets on a regular basis to exchange information between the school and the surrounding residential and business community.
11. The Craig Academy will designate one staff member as a traffic coordinator. This person will be on site during loading and unloading on a daily basis and will be a different individual than the assigned security staff.
12. The Craig Academy will place signs on site that remind bus drivers to turn off their engines and not idle.
13. The Craig Academy will write a letter to all school districts informing them of the pick-up and drop-off procedures, traffic patterns, and engine turn-off requirements.
14. The Craig Academy will work with the City on the placement of "No Left Turn Signs" on South Negley Avenue.
15. All drop-off and pick-up of students will take place in the one-way driveway off of South Negley Avenue. All vehicles that do not fit in the driveway will be sent to the employee parking lot and a secondary parking lot located behind the school. Secondary lots should not ever be used for student drop-off or pick-up.
16. The Craig Academy must work with the City, with final approval by the Zoning Administrator, and the neighborhood on a demolition/construction management plan that addresses Construction/Demolition Hours, Truck Route, Dust Control, and that all construction vehicles must be parked on site at all times.
Pursuant to Case Law Whale's Tale vs. City of Pittsburgh, 467A. 2d.665(1983), Mayor's signature not required.