The Wilkinsburg Zoning Hearing Board voted unanimously last night to reject a zoning variance request that would have allowed a correctional organization to house more than 100 adult ex-offenders in a Penn Avenue building that currently houses a program for adolescent females.

The vote denied the Cornell Companies' appeal of a previous decision that limited the number of clients at the facility to 19. Cornell hoped to use the full capacity of the building, which houses as many as 108 people. Cornell representatives have said they do not have a client ready to move in to the facility, and only wanted to change the zoning to broaden their options in case they want to bring a new program into the building.

The board also authorized the borough solicitor to investigate any legal issues that may surround the decision. Representatives for the Cornell Companies and from Cornell's Abraxas Center for Adolescent Females declined to comment following the vote.

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