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Residents press for photos, code proof and screening options for Mendon Gate Station
Summary
Residents and board members asked project proponents to provide larger photos, multiple viewpoints and documentation explaining why tanked equipment cannot be enclosed; the board discussed notifying neighboring Pittsburgh officials about the site’s view shed.
During general discussion the board and several residents raised visual‑impact and neighborhood compatibility concerns about the proposed Mendon Gate Station along Route 64.
Speakers described the current barn and equipment as visually prominent from Route 64 and requested that project proponents provide larger, higher‑resolution photos from multiple viewpoints so the board can better assess sight lines and screening options. One resident said a new smaller barn and visible towers would change the current view and urged alternatives that better match neighborhood character.
Board members asked the proponents to document any gas‑code or safety rationale that would preclude enclosing equipment inside a building, citing an interest in whether a facade, partial enclosure or other screening could be used to reduce visual impact without compromising operations. The board recommended the applicant bring supporting specifications showing heat‑retention, ventilation or code constraints and encouraged demonstration that potential façade treatments would not interfere with equipment cooling or security.
Members also urged outreach to the neighboring Pittsburgh jurisdiction because residents there will be in the view shed. "They're going to be packed in this room" a board member said, noting community interest on both sides of the municipal boundary. The board asked staff to request larger renderings and to encourage the applicant to present to the full board with more detailed visuals at the April meeting.
There was no formal vote recorded on the Mendon Gate Station during this meeting; the board framed the exchange as a request for additional materials and public outreach before the item returns to the agenda.
