Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor announced major reforms to the city’s permitting process on Monday. O’Connor said he wants to smooth the path for small businesses to open and homeowners to do renovations. “We have to make it easier for people to fix up their houses, community groups to redevelop housing in their neighborhoods, and small business owners to open up storefronts,” O’Connor said.He cited Shauntel Green, who sought help from the mayor after running into roadblocks to opening a restaurant in Homewood.O’Connor said New York City approves permits in less than five weeks. But Green said she has waited for more than a year, even after getting help from the mayor.”This isn’t a large business. I don’t have a lot of financial backing and things like that. So sometimes a timeline to open is strictly dollars and cents. You know, the longer the process is going, it’s more dollars being put out and less dollars coming in. And that can literally make or break a business,” said Green, owner of Dirty Birds Kitchen.O’Connor said he wants to improve coordination between city departments and improve transparency for residents.He said some changes, especially those for commonly used permits, should happen quickly. But an overhaul of the city’s zoning code could take much longer.Green said she and other small businesses need help soon.”I need to open before the NFL draft. I better open before the draft,” she said. Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor announced major reforms to the city’s permitting process on Monday.

O’Connor said he wants to smooth the path for small businesses to open and homeowners to do renovations.

“We have to make it easier for people to fix up their houses, community groups to redevelop housing in their neighborhoods, and small business owners to open up storefronts,” O’Connor said.

He cited Shauntel Green, who sought help from the mayor after running into roadblocks to opening a restaurant in Homewood.

O’Connor said New York City approves permits in less than five weeks. But Green said she has waited for more than a year, even after getting help from the mayor.

“This isn’t a large business. I don’t have a lot of financial backing and things like that. So sometimes a timeline to open is strictly dollars and cents. You know, the longer the process is going, it’s more dollars being put out and less dollars coming in. And that can literally make or break a business,” said Green, owner of Dirty Birds Kitchen.

O’Connor said he wants to improve coordination between city departments and improve transparency for residents.

He said some changes, especially those for commonly used permits, should happen quickly. But an overhaul of the city’s zoning code could take much longer.

Green said she and other small businesses need help soon.

“I need to open before the NFL draft. I better open before the draft,” she said.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel