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Allegheny County seeks conditional-use approval for supervised family visits at Green Tree office
Summary
Allegheny County Department of Human Services is asking Green Tree Borough for conditional-use approval to operate three supervised-family‑visit rooms inside an office leased at 875 Green Tree Road; planning commission recommended approval with a condition that any future expansion return to borough for review.
Green Tree Borough held a public hearing on a conditional‑use application from PWC Pitt LLC to allow the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) to use three interior offices at 875 Green Tree Road for supervised family visits while the remainder of the building would be used as general office space.
The application affects an office building in the OC (Office Commercial) zoning district. Borough zoning officer Christopher House determined the supervised‑visit rooms are neither clearly permitted nor prohibited and therefore require conditional‑use approval under section 4-20-7 of the borough zoning ordinance. The planning commission recommended approval subject to a condition requiring borough approval before any future expansion of the supervised‑visit area.
Sean Gallagher, presenting for the applicant, said the county has leased the office building for DHS use and that about 80 DHS employees will occupy the space. Betsy Carroll, identified as an assistant county director responsible for regional children’s offices, described the supervised visits as a small portion of the overall use: “We used to have a lot of offices, and now we've reduced ... to about 3,” she said, adding the three rooms are used for reunification visits ordered by courts.
Carroll said the building has a reception and waiting area, badge‑access locks to limit movement into other parts of the building, a security guard on site during operating hours and an alarm system that has not yet been fully implemented. She described transportation for parents as a mix of Uber cards, bus passes and agency transport for children in foster care.
Gallagher and borough counsel explained the conditional‑use standard the council must apply: that the proposed use be similar to and compatible with other permitted uses in the district, not permitted in any other district, and not in conflict with the general purpose of the ordinance. Gallagher argued DHS’s operations are compatible with other zone uses such as clinics and daycare centers.
One member of the public, identified as Elder Arcalati of 143 Sheldon Avenue, asked whether on‑site security is armed and whether metal detectors would be used. Arcalati noted the site’s proximity to Aiken Elementary School and City Vista Apartments and urged that the borough consider whether the use could be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the neighborhood. Carroll responded that security incidents at DHS offices are rare and that staff handle most issues, and that 911 would be called if needed.
Council members were asked to move the formal vote earlier in the evening’s agenda so DHS representatives would not need to wait; borough counsel said that is legally permissible and the actual vote will occur during the agenda meeting. No formal vote was taken at the public hearing.
The planning commission’s recommended condition — that the applicant obtain borough approval before expanding the supervised‑visit area beyond the three rooms — was stated on the record. The borough council will consider the conditional‑use application and the planning commission recommendation at its subsequent agenda meeting.
