Title
Resolution to establish a temporary limitation on building demolition for the area currently included in the Uptown Interim Planning Overlay District.
Body
Whereas, the City of Pittsburgh authorized the Uptown Interim Planning Overlay District (“Uptown IPOD”); and
Whereas, the Plan will be adopted by the Planning Commission in the summer of 2017 following the expiration of the Uptown IPOD on May 28, 2017, with the Uptown zoning designations to be adopted by City Council immediately following Plan adoption; and
Whereas, a temporary limitation on building demolition for the area will protect existing residential character of the neighborhood; and
Whereas, a temporary limitation on building demolition for the area will protect and enhance the area's architecture, which includes historically significant single-family homes as well as commercial buildings, and it will preserve the street-scape continuity; and
Whereas, a temporary limitation on building demolition for the area will enable the requisite community process still underway in the area, and it will help preserve the sense of community for its residents which, in turn, will enable a thorough and effective community process that respects the residents in the area and encourages quality development in Uptown.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby authorizes and directs the Director of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections to place a temporary limitation on building demolitions in the area comprised by the boundaries of the Uptown IPOD.
Section 2. The afore-mentioned temporary limitation on building demolitions shall have the following exceptions:
(a) Structures, as determined by the Director of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections, which pose an imminent public safety hazard are automatically excluded from this temporary limitation.
(b) Development plans approved by the Department of City Planning which include demolitions ancillary to new building construction are automatically excluded from this temporary limitation.
Section 3. Appeals for the denial of demolition permits pursuant to this temporary limitation may be taken to the Board of Standards and Appeals. Applicants who wish to appeal the decision of the Director of the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (“the Director”), must provide a development plan to the Department of City Planning, or a public safety assessment by a professional/registered engineer to the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections before their appeal will be scheduled to be heard.
Section 4. The temporary limitation on building demolitions shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st, 2017 or at the close of business upon the effective date of the new Uptown zoning designations, whichever occurs first.