Meeting Minutes
The meeting was opened at 7:40 PM by President Mitch Kates.
Mitch reminded the audience that the meeting will follow a
different order from past practice - Opening remarks will
come first followed by old and new business and the meeting
will conclude with committee reports, time permitting.
Opening remarks
-
Next month there will be representative of the parking
authority in attendance. Have questions and comments
ready.
-
There's a general concern about run-down property with
absentee landlords and careless tenants. In a future
meeting we hope to have a brainstorming session about
actions that can be taken to improve these situations.
-
A zoning meeting will follow the January 26, city Council
Meeting at 2:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to
consider a change to the rules for Bed and Breakfast
establishments. Current rules permit only overnight stays
and breakfast service at B&B's. The change would permit
B&B's to hold small social functions and to have
incidental retail sales. Councilman Ferlo said he wrote
original bill permitting B&B's in Pittsburgh seven years
ago; this change is merely fine tuning the rules. The
proprietor of the one B&B existing in Highland Park was
present and strongly supported the change.
-
A 24 hour MAC machine is to be installed on Bryant Street
by National City Bank for a one year trial. Presumably it
will be removed after the trial if there is insufficient
business. The machine currently in Peppi's at the Park
will be moved to another Peppi's location. It was noted
that National City has been good to the community and we
should return the favor by doing business with them.
-
Coffee Shop status - The zoning board has approved the
zoning request, but the neighbor has appealed to a judge.
The building has been bought by Ms. Enrico. The HPCC
Board of directors was canvassed by Mr. Kates and approved
a motion to enter the case in favor of the Coffee Shop.
The HPCDC is doing the same. It is unusual for community
organizations to FAVOR a zoning exception, they generally
only enter cases to OPPOSE.
New Business
See separate article: PAT, City Engineering &
Construction Respond to Comments.
Committee Reports
COP - The Community Oriented Police reported that although
there currently is no answering machine in the COP office,
she is working on getting one.
Other committee reports deferred because of the lateness.
Meeting Adjourned at about 9:30 PM.
