Dormont Council to Appeal Cochran Variance

During a special meeting held Friday morning, Dormont Council authorized an appeal of the to grant a variance to that would allow the dealership to store more vehicles in the borough.

The meeting was advertised in the Post-Gazette as necessary to appoint an officer in charge of the police department as well as to vote on other borough business. Council President Kim Lusardi said the true purpose of the meeting was to make a vote regarding the Cochran deal.

“We did call this meeting because there is a time restraint on the Cochran deal,” Council President Kim Lusardi said. “That’s why this meeting was called.”

Council voted 3-1 to appeal the Zoning Hearing Board’s decision through the Court of Common Pleas. Councilwoman Joan Hodson voted against the appeal. Councilmen John Maggio, Drew Lehman and Eugene Barilla did not attend the meeting.

Borough solicitor Deron Gabriel said the decision to appeal was made because of a concern that the Zoning Hearing Board had not complied with borough law.

“There was a legal concern that the Zoning Hearing board didn’t follow the borough ordinance,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel said the borough ordinance limits the total amount of space in the borough that can be allotted for vehicle sale and storage to 228,000 square feet.

Cochran requested a variance to that ordinance, he said, which the Zoning Hearing Board approved on Dec. 5.

Gabriel said the ordinance is similar to one in Mt. Lebanon. It is intended to apply to all businesses because of the number of diverse small businesses in the borough, he said.

“If the ordinance is circumvented, it could set a precedent,” Gabriel said. “The thought it that you don’t want to give special treatment.”

Gabriel did not immediately know which Cochran property on West Liberty Avenue had applied for the variance.

Council had until Jan. 5 to appeal the variance, he said.

The agenda for Friday, Dec. 30 included three voting items. The first was a motion to appoint Sgt. Ralf Zawischa to officer in charge of the Dormont Police Department. The vote on the variance was listed on the agenda as a motion to approve a legal issue.

A third item—involving the repayment of five sick days to former interim Chief Richard Dwyer—was removed from the agenda.

Council's reorganization meeting is Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. Council will hold an executive session starting at 5:30 p.m., prior to the meeting.