Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church v. City of Pittsburgh

OPINION BY JUDGE SIMPSON

In this appeal, the City of Pittsburgh (City) asks whether the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County (trial court) erred in vacating the Council of the City of Pittsburgh's (City Council) designation of a structure as historic. The dispositive issue is whether, under the Pittsburgh Code (Code), a structure may be designated "historic" where the structure's owner objects to the designation and City Council does not vote in favor of the designation, but rather the designation occurs as a result of City Council's inaction, i.e. , its deemed approval. Concluding it may…