Sewickley Council Approves 'Pink House' Plans

Peter Floyd implored Sewickley Council to add a condition to its resolution that if the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley should ever sell the "pink house" property in the future, the land would revert back to R-1 residential.

"If you don't put a restriction," Floyd said "you are impacting —with your decision tonight—future taxpayers." 

Without adding the condition, Sewickley Council voted 4-1 Monday night to adopt a resolution that sets findings, fact and conclusions of law forth in writing pertaining to plans for 202 Beaver St., also known as the pink house. 

Councilwoman Carole Ford cast the only opposing vote and Council President Bob Hague recused himself from the discussion. 

Solicitor Richard Tucker said council could not amend the resolution without reopening the hearing again with church representatives present. 

Councilman Robert Glenn said the property condition did not receive any support when council discussed the matter last week during the committee of the whole meeting.

The church initially planned to tear down the pink house, which dates back to the mid-1800s, to build a new youth fellowship center after purchasing the home in February 2012.

A community uproar sparked an online petition that netted more than 800 signatures from many who didn’t want to see the church demolish the pink house. The plans also prompted Floyd and others to form the grassroots “Save the Pink House” group.

Church leaders worked with the group, which has pledged to raise up to $200,000 to put toward repurposing the home. In August 2012, the church filed an amended application, one to renovate the home and the other to demolish should legal obstacles thwart plans.

The church also requested several variances that the zoning hearing board approved in March pertaining to setbacks, a connecting driveway and other requests.

Thorn Street residents Melissa Farlow and husband Randy Olson, who live adjacent to the pink house, filed an appeal in Allegheny County Court against the zoning board's decision.

Gail Murray of Edgeworth told council she has followed the situation closely because she wanted to see the pink house repurposed and thought the things were "very close to a win-win." 

"I don't think this was a win-win because the closest neighbors are having to go to court because of this... These are people who have lived here for 30 years," Murray said. 

Plans also included relocating a new playground for pre-school children from the church property to the back of the pink house near the Farlow-Olson house.

According to the borough, Farlow and two other residents testified that the noise from the playground was so loud, they couldn’t be outside while the play lot was in use. 

Murray told council she thinks the playground is "the absolutely worst location for any of the residents" because the noise will bounce off, and teens can congregate out of view.  

Neither church representatives nor Farlow and Olson attended Monday's meeting. 

The planning commission voted 4-1 last month to approve the church’s plans with seven conditions, one of which recommended that council not accept the playground location.

Floyd told council Monday it was shameful the borough was ignoring the taxpayers and the planning commission recommendations while "siding with non-residents." 

Glenn said it was "pretty hard to say how much support exists" when only one or two people showed up to oppose the plans. 

"We have a church that's been here 150 years and right now the focus is on children," Glenn said. 

Council has approved the land development plans with five conditions:

• That there be no parking between the place of assembly building and the front lot line

• That the parking not exceed 46 spaces

• That there be a written agreement for an access easement to the parking lot on the unified lot and a written agreement for a shared easement for storm sewers be recorded

• That the landscape plan be forwarded to the Tree Commission for approval

• That the final occupancy permit be conditioned on satisfaction of the lighting plan.