Thursday, May 16, 2013
#1 Cochran’s former used car lot is being reconstructed as a public parking lot, to be owned by Dormont Borough.
A new parking lot is taking shape on West Liberty Avenue, across from the Cochran Nissan dealership, and soon that lot will belong to Dormont Borough. #1 Cochran Automotive Group is overseeing the reconstruction of the parking lot in preparation for an upcoming land swap, a key first step of the West Liberty Avenue Reconstruction project. The land swap will give the borough ownership of the former used car lot, and will give #1 Cochran ownership of the triangle lot at the corner of West Liberty Avenue and McFarland Road. Dormont borough manager Jeff Naftal said the land swap will occur when construction on the new parking lot is complete, and the lot is ready for public use. The new parking lot will have a kiosk-style pay system rather …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Dormont Council voted to move forward with a business plan for West Liberty Avenue, but the plan still is not final.
Dormont Council voted Tuesday to move forward with a business plan for West Liberty Avenue proposed by #1 Cochran representatives in February. Council voted 4-3 to move forward with its third option for working with #1 Cochran's plan, which includes completing a land swap with the automotive company and implementing a TIF district in the borough. Councilmen John Maggio and Eugene Barilla, and councilwoman Laurie Malka voted "no" to moving forward with that option, citing concerns over parking issues that could arise or be made worse while construction at the Cochran Nissan site is in progress. Borough solicitor John Rushford said council's vote is simply a vote to move forward—not a vote on a final plan. The next step is for the borough …
Friday, April 6, 2012
The borough has not entered into an agreement with #1 Cochran to date.
Dormont Council on Monday outlined the procedure they are following for working with #1 Cochran in regard to the automotive dealer’s proposed building plans in the borough. The borough has not entered into an agreement with #1 Cochran regarding the dealership’s proposal, and council members said they plan to look at the proposal carefully before approving anything. “We have not—and I want to make this very clear—we have not committed to anything,” said Councilwoman Onnie Costanzo. “We’re just looking at everything right now. That’s all we’re doing.” Representatives from #1 Cochran held a public meeting at the borough recreation center in February to discuss their proposal for expansion along West Liberty Avenue. A PDF of their proposal is …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Dormont Council voted Monday to form a committee to assist the borough with decision regarding #1 Cochran’s development proposal.
A steering committee of Dormont citizens, business owners and a local church will be formed to assist Dormont council members in a discussion of #1 Cochran’s proposed development plan. Dormont Council voted Monday night to form the committee, which would include business owners in the area near the Cochran Nissan location on West Liberty Avenue, citizens living in the area, and representatives from Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. “I know there’s once again been some rumors circulating, but we have not sold, traded or even talked to Cochran about their proposal,” said council President Bill McCartney. Several people who spoke at the meeting offered to serve on the committee, including local business owners and a representative of …
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
A committee of local business owners and residents could help Dormont Council with discussions of #1 Cochran’s expansion in the borough.
Dormont Council plans to vote next week to appoint a steering committee of local business owners and residents to help the borough negotiate the proposed #1 Cochran development on West Liberty Avenue. The committee would be made up of local business owners and residents in the area of the Cochran Nissan Dealership on West Liberty Avenue that could be affected by the dealership’s possible expansion in the area. “They would not be negotiators, and they would not have a veto,” said council President Bill McCartney. “What they would do is serve as a sounding board for alternatives and negotiating strategies, as well as a voice of reason in the community so we have folks out there who know what’s going on all the time.” Representatives from #1 …
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Representatives from #1 Cochran and others discussed plans for development on West Liberty Avenue during Monday’s meeting.
A special meeting hosted by Dormont Council on Monday night took some of the mystery out of #1 Cochran’s proposed plans for the West Liberty Avenue corridor in Dormont. Rob Cochran, president and CEO of #1 Cochran, shared the business’s anticipated plan of development in the South Hills for the next 12 months. The proposed plan includes construction of a Volkswagen showroom by the fall of 2012, a #1 Cochran South Hills Service and Collision Center in Castle Shannon by late summer of 2012 and site improvements to the Nissan center, as well as a new Nissan showroom on West Liberty Avenue. A new Infiniti showroom next to the Nissan site also is proposed. Of those projects, the only definite plans are for the Nissan development. Construction …
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Council voted Dec. 30 to appeal a decision allowing a variance for the dealership.
Four days after voting to appeal the borough Zoning Hearing Board’s decision to grant a variance to Cochran Nissan, Dormont council voted not to take that action. After the swearing in of council member John Maggio and new council members Valerie Martino and Onnie Costanzo, Martino asked to add a motion to the agenda that would allow the board’s decision to stand. “I actually read the 90 pages and I did some homework, and I feel the zoning (board) did the right thing and we need to respect that,” Martino said. “I think it’s going to be beneficial to our community.” Council voted 5-2 not to appeal the board’s decision. Council members Laurie Malka and Bill McCartney—who was appointed council president Tuesday—voted against the motion. “We’…
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Cochran is seeking variances from the borough to expand its parking.
The Dormont 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 …
Erin Faulk
10:43 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Joseph, Yes - most of what you're talking about here is part of the long-term plan for this project. This particular land swap is one of the first steps of the long-term plans. If you click the "West Liberty Avenue reconstruction project" link within the second paragraph of this article, it will take you to a previous article I wrote that explains the entire reconstruction plan in more detail. … more ›