Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
AS AMENDED
Title
An Ordinance amending certain portions of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911.02 (Use Table) to create a definition for the use of Check Cashing, Chapter 911.04.A (Standards That Apply to Uses Listed in the Use Table) to create standards for the use of Check Cashing, and Chapter 914.02.A (Schedule A) to create parking standards for Check Cashing facilities.
Body
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. Amending certain portions of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911.02 (Use Table) to create a definition for the use of Check Cashing, Chapter 911.04.A (Standards That Apply to Uses Listed in the Use Table).
A. Amend Chapter 911.02 (Use Table) to include:
Check Cashing means an establishment engaged in some or all of a variety of financial services including cashing of checks, warrants, drafts, money orders or other commercial paper securing the same purpose; deferred deposit of personal checks whereby the check casher refrains from depositing a personal check written by a customer until a specific date; money transfers, payday advances; issuance of money orders; distribution of governmental checks and food stamps; payment of utility bills; issuance of bus passes and tokens; sale of phone cards and similar uses. This use shall not include a state or federally chartered bank, savings association, credit union, industrial loan association, or rental-purchase company and shall not include a retail seller engaged primarily in the business of selling consumer goods, including consumables, to retail buyers that cashes checks or issues money orders for a minimum flat fee not exceeding $2.00 as a service to its customers incidental to the main use of the establishment.
B. Amend Chapter 911.02 (Use Table) to include:
Check Cashing as a Use by Special Exception in the NDI (Neighborhood Industrial), HC (Highway Commercial), GI (General Industrial), and UI (Urban Industrial) Zoning Districts.
C. Amend Chapter 911.04.A (Standards That Apply to Uses Listed in the Use Table) to include:
911.04.A.93 Check Cashing
The following standards shall apply to all Check Cashing uses:
(a) Check Cashing facilities shall not be open for business to customers for more than nine (9) hours within any twenty-four (24) hour period and shall not be open for business on Sundays;
(b) The building housing a Check Cashing facility shall not be located within five hundred (500) feet from any residential use as measured from the center point of the subject building;
(c) The building housing a Check Cashing facility shall not be located within one thousand (1,000) feet from another Check Cashing facility, a Pawn Shop, or a facility containing mechanical or electronic devices, machines, tables or apparatus of any kind used for playing games of skill or amusement, as a primary or accessory use, as measured from the center point of the subject building;
(d) A Check Cashing use shall not be conducted as a unit of another business and shall be financed and conducted as a separate business unit, however, this shall not prevent a check cashing facility from leasing part of the premises of another business for the conduct of check cashing activities on the same premises;
(e) A Check Cashing facility may not accept money or currency for deposit or act as agent for persons, firms, partnerships, associations or corporations to hold money or currency in escrow for others for any purpose, however, a check cashing facility may act as agent for the issuer of money orders or travelers checks;
(f) The applicant is required to be licensed as a Check Casher with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Banking;
(g) Not more than one place of business may be operated under the same Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Banking license;
(h) A licensee may not contract with another individual or business entity to manage the Check Cashing facility, not including persons employed to operate the facility;
(i) Check cashing facilities shall not issue tokens to be used in lieu of money for the purchase of goods or services from any enterprise;
(j) The use of bars, chains, or similar security devices that are visible from a public street or sidewalk shall be prohibited.
D. Amend Chapter 914.02.A (Schedule A) to include:
Use Type Minimum Off-Street Maximum Off-Street
Automobile Spaces Automobile Spaces
Required Allowed
Check Cashing 1 per 500 s.f. above first 1 per 175 s.f.
2400 s.f.