tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post3168763798403935249..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: Outragious Letter to the EditorBram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-74449704600651271212007-07-25T21:22:00.000-04:002007-07-25T21:22:00.000-04:00Well, thanks for being cool on most issues.Well, thanks for being cool on most issues.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-55522873753322189032007-07-24T13:20:00.000-04:002007-07-24T13:20:00.000-04:00thank you for spelling mcintire right. christ, how...thank you for spelling mcintire right. christ, how hard is it to wrap your fucking head around that in this city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-84940634391075076772007-07-24T09:46:00.000-04:002007-07-24T09:46:00.000-04:00The Zoning Board of Adjustment, like the Planning ...The Zoning Board of Adjustment, like the Planning Commission, has all the teeth it needs. It's the person who APPOINTS them who determines, by force of prerogative, what those teeth chew into.<BR/><BR/>The Zoning Board and the Planning Commission (the latter by virtue of the City Council) are quasi-judicial to begin with, so Mark is right about that part. And generally, the Zoning Board and specifically the Planning Commission/Council rarely EVER get their decisions overturned in court for that exact reason.<BR/><BR/>Acting in line with the duties delegated to them is usually not grounds for court challenges, although I have seen them get hauled in front of courts from time to time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-25301535112729937622007-07-24T00:18:00.000-04:002007-07-24T00:18:00.000-04:00We're not on board with nuking the zoning board. ...We're not on board with nuking the zoning board. Giving it some teeth, maybe.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-47745316994576919862007-07-23T22:20:00.000-04:002007-07-23T22:20:00.000-04:00This has little or NOTHING to do with civic status...This has little or NOTHING to do with civic status.<BR/><BR/>BTW, the zoning board does have the capacity to act as a court. Same too does city council on certain types of matters (such as this).<BR/><BR/>So, a trial like event can unfold and those folks are like judge and jury -- with an appeals court at the next level (city council).<BR/><BR/>The zoning board is another board that should be NUKED. It is toothless. It passes the buck when hard questions / issues arrive.<BR/><BR/>It is worthless and generally provides a new layer of red tape.<BR/><BR/>The city can do without it for 10 or 15 years.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-32806766142445608252007-07-23T15:04:00.000-04:002007-07-23T15:04:00.000-04:00Nice tip.My reading of the Municipal Planning Code...Nice tip.<BR/><BR/>My reading of the Municipal Planning Code (MPC) confirms it: On page 6, "An Act", after the table of contents and before article one, it says it applies to cities of the 2A, third class, boroughs, townships, and on down.<BR/><BR/>The MPC was not written with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in mind.<BR/><BR/>Viva la Home Rule Charter!!<BR/><BR/>Another note: the "shaky legal ground" opinion was not brought to the planning commission by anyone in the law department. It was brought by Pat Ford, the Mayor's development czar / rising star.<BR/><BR/>His portfolio usually contains work with outfits like the URA, and the Sports & Exhibition Authority.Bram Reichbaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-69257511865998581062007-07-23T13:27:00.000-04:002007-07-23T13:27:00.000-04:00I have always wondered how much influence a LTE ex...I have always wondered how much influence a LTE exerts on any single issue in terms of increasing/reducing public pressure. Especially in light of the dramatic collapse in the volume of newspaper circulation and sales over the past 5 years--in the electronic age the reader has the benefit of easily sorting and avoiding content. Even if hardcopy publications were more popular than ever, how much value does a LTE bring to the public interest?J-Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14133527323756530857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-45730748369057205192007-07-23T13:22:00.000-04:002007-07-23T13:22:00.000-04:00Revision:The MPC doesn't include cities of the Fir...Revision:<BR/><BR/>The MPC doesn't include cities of the First and Second Class (except second-class (A) cities -- Scranton)<BR/><BR/>That is why it doesn't include Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-31113648307960288102007-07-23T12:59:00.000-04:002007-07-23T12:59:00.000-04:00The MPC (Municipalities' Planning Code) largely ha...The MPC (Municipalities' Planning Code) largely has nothing to do with Home Rule Municipalities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com