Dormont Zoning Board To Consider Cochran Parking

The zoning hearing board will consider Cochran Nissan's plan to build a three-tiered parking deck that would allow it to store some 250 vehicles, more than doubling current storage.

The board meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at the borough building.

The borough planning commission has already approved the plan, but Cochran must obtain several variances from the zoning board and approval by council for the plan to go forward.

Borough Manager Gino Rizza doesn’t favor the plan.

“It is not the highest and best use of that spot because of the T-stop. That would be better developed as a transit-oriented development,” he said.

Rizza said he’s been talking to developers about the area. Earlier this year, the borough purchased the Dormont Junction station parking lot along West Liberty Avenue from the Port Authority of Allegheny County for $620,000.

Cochran’s plan calls for the deck to start at the site of the former Café J’s restaurant and wrap around the back of the Nissan building.

Variances the plan would require from the zoning hearing board include those dealing with setback requirements and the square footage of parking per car.