Jefferson Hills zoning update presented to council

Jefferson Hills council members are closely reviewing a proposed overhaul to the borough’s zoning regulations.

For the last three years, members of the Jefferson Hills planning commission have worked to create a new zoning ordinance and corresponding map that will create new rules for development. In December, planning commission members recommended the document for council approval.

On Feb. 10, John Trant, the borough’s planning consultant, presented the proposed ordinance to council members for review.

“One of the goals was to simplify the zoning map and to address the multiple overlapping zoning districts,” he said.

The goal also is for the proposed ordinance to help applicants looking to develop their land to better understand the rules that apply for their property, he said.

The overhaul of the zoning ordinance was the outcome of the borough’s last comprehensive plan, he said. It includes a use chart and outlines rules for everything from antenas to landscaping and signs.

Councilwoman Nicole Ruscitto had numerous questions for Trant regarding the proposed ordinance, including if a task force has been convened to work on the ordinance.

Trant said that to his knowledge there was no task force, however the codes committee, a sub committee of the planning commission, met frequently as the ordinance and map were being drafted.

Ruscitto also questioned if the state Supreme Court decision regarding oil and gas drilling in the borough had been taken into consideration.

Trant said that the borough’s solicitor and special legal counsel advised on that front.

Several property owners attended the Feb. 10 meeting to ask council members to keep property near Peters Creek Road zoned as industrial to allow them to open and operate landscaping type businesses. Under the proposed zoning changes, the zoning for the parcels would change to commercial use.

Council President Karen Bucy said council members need to make sure they get this right.

“Last year, we had almost an extra $100,000 in legal litigation over zoning,” she said. “So we need to make sure that we have this zoning correct. So, if we’re asking a lot of questions, that’s the reason we’re doing that.”

Before the zoning ordinance and map moves forward, council members must hold a public hearing to gather resident input, Trant said.

The proposed ordinance and map also were sent for review by Allegheny County. If there are significant changes made at the council level, the ordinance will need to be sent back for further review, he said.

GBU construction

The Gill Hall Community Center — also known as the GBU — building is undergoing refurbishment and will be closed through March.

“The GBU is a building that was donated to the borough a number of years ago and it has hosted events inside the borough for decades,” borough Manager John Stinner said. “It fell into disrepair and one of the new priorities of this council has been to put some elbow grease and TLC into it.”

Stinner said “literally everything” is being upgraded at the building, from new sewers to a fresh coat of paint, new ceiling tiles and lighting.

“It actually is turning out extraordinarily well,” he said.

The facility, which is a popular rental space for borough residents, will be closed for all of February and part of March.

“I think it’s going to be even more (popular) now that we’re doing this,” Stinner said.