Pittsburgh leaders who had spent more than a year creating standards for everything from how a casino should look to where it could be located are furious about a bill enacted by the State House that removes zoning authority 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.
Thanks to Sheryl Stolzenberg
FULL STORY: Loss of zoning authority over casinos enrages officials

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Local Governments Sue HUD Over Funding Cuts
A new lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration’s revised guidelines for housing and homelessness assistance funds will decimate key programs.

California Is Retooling its AV Guidelines
The California DMV is proposing a new framework for light- and heavy-duty self-driving trucks that would enhance reporting requirements and pave the way for autonomous commercial fleets.

Proposed Boulder Ballot Measures Call for Impact Fees, Affordable Duplexes
Boulder residents are working to put two housing-related proposals on the November ballot.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions