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Map Pittsburgh Zoning Passes!!!!
by 15211Advocate ~ April 23rd, 2008. Filed under: Development, MWCDC, MWREDO, Zoning.Reported by multiple attendees of the Map Pittsburgh Planning Commission hearing:
The hearing was to start at 2pm. Two hours later the Map Pittsburgh committee finally got their chance to present the zoning upgrades for Mt. Washington and especially proposed LNC zoning for Virginia Avenue.
Justin Miller stood up and gave a brief description of the zoning changes as he has multiple times at Map Pittsburgh meetings at the Senior Center. The commission asked no questions, instead they opened the floor up for discussion. There were about 25 people that wanted to speak and because there were so many, the committee asked that organization representatives speak first.
The CDC was represented, although poorly, by Mr. Frank Valenta. All we as members asked of Mr. Valenta was to stand up and say he represented the CDC board and the board voted to approve and support the zoning upgrades. In true Frank Valenta fashion, this isn’t what happened. Instead of keeping it short and simple and honest, Mr. Valenta decided to grandstand and talk about things that had nothing to do with the proposed zoning upgrades. Instead, he mentioned an event that happened back in 2004 (when he wasn’t CDC President by the way). He went on a five minute explanation about how back in 2004, a business/property owner on Virginia Ave. tried to get something developed but didn’t get community input and didn’t do things properly and it was shot down by City Council. All this served to do was to delay his saying whether or not the CDC supported the proposal.
After his irrelevant speech, Mr. Valenta tried to sit down and the Planning Commission Chairperson asked Mr. Valenta what the position of the CDC was. Valenta then stood up and tried to explain that the board voted on it on April 3rd but the membership didn’t bring it to vote at the forum meeting.n The chairperson asked him again…”Does the CDC board support this proposal?”, and again Mr. Valenta waffled until the chairperson asked a simple yes/no question to Mr. Valenta and he finally said YES the boards supports the zoning changes.
After Mr. Valenta spoke, Dick Pirain stood up to address the committee to show his support of the zoning changes and to also defend himself because he was the business owner about which Mr. Valenta was speaking. Back in 2004, Mr. Pirain tried to get a commercial building built on the vacant lot on Virginia Ave. across from Cestone’s Pizza. This development was blocked by the same people that are opposing the Map Pittsburgh proposal today. They were successful back then and stopped anything from being built on that lot, which remains vacant. Mr. Perain explained to the commission that he did get community input (Mr. Valenta said he didn’t) and he did get the approval of the Planning Commission at that time. He then explained how favors were called in by some influential folks who were opposed to the City Council decision and it wasn’t approved.
Following Mr. Pirain, Chuck Wallace spoke on behalf of the MWREDO. It has been the position of the MWREDO from it’s inception that they support the zoning upgrades 100%.
When Mr. Wallace was finished with his speech, the committee chair asked the room to show by raising their hands who was in favor of the proposal. There were 15 to 20 people who raised their hands in approval. Then they asked for a showing of hands for those opposed. Only three hands went up.
After this vote, the rest of the room had a chance to speak. One of the women who raised her hand against the proposal actually said she wasn’t for it or against it, she just wanted to know more about it. Then about five or six people stood up and explained why they were in favor of the changes.
Enter Michele Cunko. Ms. Cunko was definitely apposed to the zoning. She spoke about how she has been fighting development on Virginia Ave. for 30 years. Her arguments against the LNC zoning of Virginia Ave. didn’t really make a lot of sense and then she also brought up something about some developers not paying taxes on time. A desperate tactic? I guess she thought the Planning Commission cared about that, but it had no relevance to the discussion and was dismissed as such.
After Ms. Cunko spoke, more supporters of the proposal talked and then the last opponent, Melanie Smith, stood up to speak about why she didn’t believe it was the right thing to do for Virginia Ave. Her argument was that there are too many empty parcels on Shiloh and Boggs/Bailey. Again, this argument really had nothing to do with Virginia Ave. zoning changes and was really just another attempt to distract from the issue at hand, which was updating Virginia Ave. zoning. One odd thing she did say was that if she lived four blocks away from Virginia Ave, she would probably be for the LNC. Doesn’t 98% of Mt. Washington live four blocks or more away from Virginia Ave?
After all attendees spoke, one of the committee members addressed his colleagues about this issue. He said he has friends on Mt. Washington that are looking to move out of the area because there aren’t enough amenities close to them. He said that they don’t own a car and are walkers and when they have to go shopping for anything (other than groceries) that they have to ride the incline down to Station Square and catch a bus. He said that this is exactly the type of thing that Mt. Washington needs to retain it’s residents and was in total support of the proposal.
They then voted, UNANIMOUSLY to approve the Map Pittsburgh zoning changes!
Congratulations to all involved in making this happen. I would like to personally thank all of the staff of Map Pittsburgh, and the planning commission for finally listening to the majority of the people of the residents and helping make Mt. Washington a viable Pittsburgh neighborhood once again. Now let’s get to it and make this happen and get some great things going in the 15211.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
This is GREAT news! Thanks for the update. Let’s hope that we see some responsible development soon.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Fantasitc!!!!!!
I knew it would pass…. I feel for those who oppose this (ie - live right in the midst of this) but this is one of those scenarios when the greater good needs to be accounted for, not the will of a small handful of people …
you got to break a few eggs ya know ….
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
the rest of the story…from Bobby, an attendee of the hearing…
After yesterday’s Map Pittsburgh Meeting I was walking out of the hearing room and happened to be behind Mr. Valenta, who was in turn, behind Mr. Pirain.
I was shocked to see and hear Mr. Valenta commenting to Mr. Pirain in his ear as we walked out saying things that you only hear in the playground in 4th grade. It was like a bully trying to steal lunch money or something, I couldn’t believe I was seeing this coming out of an 82 year old man.
He was taunting Mr. Pirain and said, and I quote, “I should have kicked your a$$ when I had the chance… Anytime you want to go you call me out and I’ll be there…you’re an a$$hole.”
He continued this immature rant all of the way out of the hearing room until they reached the lobby of the building. Mr. Pirain then turned around and confronted Mr. Valenta asking him why he was saying these things and why he was bringing up old issues at this hearing when it had nothing to do with the zoning changes..
Mr. Valenta then puffed out his chest and got right into the face or Mr. Pirain and called him out again.
Chuck Wallace then got between them to break this up. I was also standing beside Mr. Pirain as Chuck tried to separate the two. Then Mr. Valenta looked at Chuck and said, “Shut up you young punk you don’t know $hit. You’re just a young punk, let’s go right here.”
Finally other people from the hearing finally came out into the lobby and we all shuffled outside the building. Mr. Valenta then started yelling at Chuck and Mr. Pirain saying they were a$$holes and told Chuck to take his jacket off so they could settle this thing right here and right now. Chuck did respond to this “call-out” but refrained from anything physical. Finally we got everyone separated and went on our way.
During the confrontation outside of the building I witnessed 3 Planning Commission members walk out and run to dodge what was going on with looks of astonishment on their faces. I was absolutely embarrassed to be associated with the CDC at that time.
Only 5 months till the CDC board election.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
intense….
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
umm wow…
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Doesn’t surprise me at all. The “president” shows his true colors again, in public.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Was Frank V. the only official CDC person at the hearing? Were other board members there? How about any of the CDC staff people? Was the new ED at the hearing? I’d be very interested to know what he thought of all of this. At least he has (hopefully) now seen Frank’s true colors.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I would like to comment on the altercation that took place after the zoning hearing yesterday. I regret and apologize for any embarassment my actions might have caused anybody or the community. Those that truly know me know that I love this neighborhood and would do nothing to intentionally harm it. With that being said, I would like to give you all the context of what has been going on the last couple days. So that I can explain my actions, not excuse them. Rewind to Monday: at the request of several members of the community, I called Mr. Valenta on the telephone. With the purpose of asking him if he was planning on attending the zoning hearing and speaking on behalf of the boards decision to support the proposed zoning by the city. After I asked him a question on the legality of the vote, he gave me a verbal lashing over the phone. (This conversation can be confirmed by an employee of the CDC, seeing that Mr. Valenta and myself both reported it). I let this go, being that he’s had a rough year personally, and being an elderly man. Now, fast forward to Tuesday. When I tried to calm the situation between Mr. Valenta and Mr. Pirain, Mr. Valenta started to give me another verbal lashing. This time I regretably lashed back. I should have answered Mr. Valenta’s bullying tactics another way. Once again, I regret the way the situation was handled. I hope the community will not think negatively of me in the future, because of this unfortunate circumstance.
Sincerely,
Chuck Wallace
April 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Chuck- thanks for the comment. I support you and understand your situation, as do many others with whom I’ve spoken about the incident. Thank you for working so hard on this issue and for helping to improve Mt. Washington. We really appreciate hardworking business owners who want to create a better neighborhood for everyone.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Hi All,
I was born and raised on Kramer Way – I attended Saint Mary of the Mount grade school and I have been actively involved in Mount Washington from an early age – I must say and this is not with arrogance I have accomplished a lot for the good of this neighborhood – more than many in this neighborhood and I have done so many times in the middle of battles and verbal abuse – and I never backed off. Having said that, I would like to commend Chuck Wallace (Chuckie) for standing up and not taking any of the garbage that that regime spews.
It takes an even temperament to deal with back alley, small minded tactics – but even the most conscientious can come to a breaking point. I have known Chuckie – since we were kids, we both attended Saint Mary of the Mount and I can tell you that he has been an honorable person all of his life. Hard working – as you see his dedication to his parents’ business and his dedication to the neighborhood. He made a significant investment on Virginia Avenue with his properties and he maintains them to the best of his ability. My family and Chuck’s family go back many decades and I can tell you that he comes from a fine family with impeccable family values and Chuckie would never compromise his family’s reputation or his own credibility. So, no Chuck we don’t think any ill of you!
His champion of development for Virginia Avenue is a testament to his dedication to the revitalization of the community. I have been there and I have done that as far as dealing with the small minds in communities and it can be frustrating - Chuckie’s action was in line with any human defense mechanism.
No one should worry about the negative – consider the source. An 82 year old back alley thug who is a “legend in his own mind” should be considered as the biggest joke of the year! Who looks like the punk? 82-year-old punk at that and his cohort or “65 year old boss” is just as ridiculous! All of you remember this incident – we don’t need the 82-year punk or his 65-year old boss’s insidious caliber of mentality in a decision making capacity! Intimidation, threats of bodily harm and silly lawsuits aren’t going to stop any of us!
So don’t worry Chuckie PRESS ON and help revitalize Virginia Avenue.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Thanks Chuck and everyone else that attended the meeting on Tuesday! I think Chuck Wallace should consider running for city council district 2. Agree?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am
[…] (in addition to demanding increased police presence of course). Virginia Avenue has finally been properly zoned. I hope property owners are beginning to explore their options on that street. The Edge is being […]