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Release Date: Tuesday, April 5th 2011
Post-Gazette: Help on the way for noise-plagued Downtowners
Help on the way for noise-plagued Downtowners
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle today introduced legislation to make sure people who live Downtown have the same protection from noisy garbage trucks that's afforded to residents in other parts of the city.
Under Mr. Lavelle's bill, garbage and recycling pickup would be prohibited within 300 feet of residential buildings from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Many Downtown buildings have a mix of retail, office and residential space. Mr. Lavelle's bill defines a residential building as one using at least half of its floor space as living space.
Mr. Lavelle's bill builds on legislation passed at Councilman Bill Peduto's behest in February.
Because of residents' complaints about garbage haulers rattling Dumpsters during late-night and early-morning hours, Mr. Peduto pushed through legislation banning pickup in residential zones and within 1,000 feet of residential zones from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Though the city has made efforts in recent years to encourage Downtown living, Mr. Lavelle said the area is not considered a residential zone and so was not covered by Mr. Peduto's legislation.
Joe Smydo: jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.
First published on April 5, 2011 at 2:10 pm
