Pennsylvania Takes Over Casino Zoning From Cities

"I'm hopping mad," City Councilwoman Tonya Payne said. "I just don't think it's fair that the state should feel the need to tell us how we should do zoning here in the City of Pittsburgh." The Council member was one of eight City Council members to sign a letter yesterday urging the state Senate to reverse the action and "restore the people's voice" in the zoning of the proposed casino. "It's unconscionable that the state House would take away all local zoning, planning and land use power from the local municipality, an action that strips the people of their voice," the letter stated.

Some help could be on the way from the State Senate, where Democratic Leader Robert Mellow said that when the Senate takes up the slots amendment on Monday, he will try to remove the local zoning pre-emptions. He didn't see any reason why the two cities should be singled out for treatment that is different from other towns in the state.

Steve Miskin, an aide to House Republican leader Sam Smith, defended the pre-emption of local zoning. Miskin said the two cities are different because they are the only cities guarantee stand-alone, or non-racetrack casinos.

"We are trying to expedite the gaming proceeds for property tax relief," Mishkin said. If the stand-alone casinos "get mired down in local zoning complexities", revenue won't be quickly generated by casinos for reducing people's property taxes, he said.

State Senator Jim Ferlo, Democrat from the Highland Park section of Pittburgh, who fought to protect the city's zoning power over casinos said the House bill "would run roughshod" over that ability. "I will be fighting tooth and nail to get the bill back amended," he said.

Anne Swager, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force, said that even if the Legislature succeeds in exempting casinos from local zoning, the group will not be silenced. "We will still rattle every chain and bang on every window we can to be part of the process," she said.