U-Pull-&-Play plans in Penn Hills opposed by Wilkinsburg, environmental group
Wilkinsburg officials and environmental advocates are opposing a proposed development in Penn Hills near the border of the two municipalities.
Penn Hills Council will consider an ordinance and conditional use permit that would allow a self-serve used auto parts business at the former Eastgate Shopping Center site off Robinson Boulevard. If council approves, Cincinnati-based U-Pull-&-Pay would construct a 24,000-square-foot building and keep 1,500 to 1,800 cars on the 31.7-acre site, surrounded by an opaque fence.
Customers would be able to browse cars and extract parts to purchase.
The parcel is entirely in Penn Hills. The proposed ordinance would amend the municipality's zoning ordinance to permit self-service used auto part sales as a conditional use in the East Gate Zoning District .
At Thursday's planning commission meeting, Penn Hills Planning Director Chris Blackwell called the proposed development a “viable, good business.” Wilkinsburg officials called it a junkyard.
U-Pull-&-Pay Director of Business Development Dan Muchmore said there are misconceptions about the business and there would be no scrapping activity. He said cars would be organized in “nice, clean, straight rows” with landscaping around the site.
A video presentation shown at the meeting said the company is looking to invest $7 million in Penn Hills, create 25 jobs and pay an estimated $300,000 in property taxes.
Blackwell said officials think this zoning amendment might lead to “an industrial park we've envisioned for this area. We believe it's a good use.” He said the business could bring other auto-related businesses to the area.
“Being just down the road, we are greatly impacted,” Wilkinsburg Council President Patrick Shattuck said.
He said Wilkinsburg Council unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the development Feb. 21.
“Not all development is good development,” Shattuck said, contending a junkyard could hurt Wilkinsburg's development prospects and that making an exception for U-Pull-&-Pay would be spot zoning.
Spot zoning — zoning a parcel differently than neighboring properties — is illegal in Pennsylvania. Penn Hills solicitor Chelsea Dice said she does not believe the zoning ordinance for U-Pull-&-Pay would be spot zoning, as it conforms to the community's comprehensive plan.
Michael Hiller, director of policy and outreach for the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, said at the meeting that the property is within a watershed that feeds into the Nine Mile Run Watershed in Pittsburgh's East End.
“Whatever takes place on this parcel of land will run off ... and get into Nine Mile Run,” Hiller said. “This is degrading everything we're working towards.”
He said fluids from vehicles could contaminate groundwater. Muchmore said all fluids would be drained from vehicles before they are placed on the lot.
Penn Hills Council will vote on the ordinance March 21.
Kelsey Shea is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. She can be reached at 412-320-7845 or kshea@tribweb.com.
