Follow the city zoning policy

I don’t doubt Mayor Bill Peduto’s good intentions in opposing developers’ payments to community organizations, like the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, in exchange for relaxing zoning restrictions, but is his administration a better arbiter of these matters? (March 1, “Peduto Questions Oakland Settlement”). When the city’s zoning board denied a variance to Walnut Capital to exceed height limits on its third Bakery Square office building, his administration entered into a consent agreement to allow added height in exchange for the developer’s payment of $245,000 to the city to fund improvements like a new scoreboard and dugout at Mellon Park.

Those who live less than 1,000 feet away — a distance perhaps the mayor deems close enough to claim standing — weren’t asked if this was a fair exchange. And now a ninestory building, three stories and 45 feet taller than permitted by the zoning code, looms over our neighborhood.

The mayor’s “Registered Community Organizations” may seem like vehicles for greater neighborhood control of developers but too often they are co-opted by city officials and departments intent on striking deals with developers. And why shouldn’t these too be required to have “standing” when most of their members and leaders live well over a mile away from proposed developments opposed by those who reside much closer?

What perhaps irks the mayor most is that some developers may seek to circumvent the city’s arbitration of zoning matters after variances are denied, a well-established closed-door practice throughout Pennsylvania. In filing an appeal of the recent adverse ruling by the zoning board, Echo Realty may now be seeking yet another consent agreement with the city to relax height restrictions for its Shady Hill Center. Let’s hope the Post-Gazette will shine a spotlight on any efforts by the city to abdicate responsibility for enforcing its own zoning code.

RICHARD WILSON Shadyside