Pittsburgh City Council amends proposal for Walnut Capital's Oakland Crossings development

Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday approved amendments to tweak legislation that would allow for a controversial, large-scale development in Oakland before sending the proposal to the Planning Commission.

Walnut Capital, a local developer best known for revitalizing the East End’s Bakery Square, has proposed a major transformation of the city’s Oakland neighborhood, complete with a grocery store, more green space and a pedestrian bridge crossing the Boulevard of the Allies.

The proposed 17-acre development called Oakland Crossings would require a zoning change. Mayor Bill Peduto sent council a proposal that would change the zoning requirements, creating a fifth “open public realm” subdistrict in Oakland.

Though Walnut Capital has repeatedly said it is developing its plans with residents’ desires in mind, the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation has opposed the project and about 30 residents spoke out against the development during a public hearing last week.

“You are going to see extensive concessions,” Councilman Bruce Kraus told council members before explaining the amendments.

Kraus and his staff worked to forge a compromise between opposing groups, adding requirements that would ensure the developers met “fundamental points” that residents wanted in a new development.

City Council approved the amendments, which would require the developer to create affordable housing and erect efficient, sustainable buildings. The changes also reduced the maximum heights of buildings the developer may construct and required that dumpsters and loading zones not be visible to residential homes.

Not meeting certain requirements — like failing to provide affordable housing — could result in fines.

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, who grew up in Oakland, said she felt the amendment addressed many of the concerns she had heard from residents, and said she had received a lot of messages and calls from residents expressing support for the proposal.

The changes were “good thought processes,” said Gregg Perelman, Walnut Capital founder and CEO.

“It sets a good standard for future developers,” he said. “The council has to decide what’s right for our city.”

He said the new requirements set forth are “achievable” and the developer would continue taking input from the community into consideration.

City Council voted to send the proposal, with the new amendment, to the city’s Planning Commission, where a “very public process” will begin, Kraus said.

This is still only the first step in what will be a “very long and arduous process,” he said, noting that the Planning Commission will eventually send it back to council for approval. At that point, he said, council members would again be able to “tweak” the legislation, though they would not be able to make substantial changes without beginning the process anew.

Councilwoman Deb Gross abstained from the vote. All other council members voted in favor of sending it to the Planning Commission.

Council also discussed confusion over the way the legislation was introduced, a concern several members of the public have mentioned during public comments and last week’s public hearing.

Peduto sent the legislation to council, something Gross said was confusing. To change zoning, she said, the process should be initiated by the zoning administrator or a member of council.

“It seems to me like the mayor is acting like a council member,” she said.

Councilman Ricky Burgess, however, said that a mayor can only suggest legislation. It was formally introduced by a member of council.

“Once the council member introduces it, it doesn’t matter where it comes from,” he said.