North Shore interests that don't want a slot machine casino in their neighborhood aren't likely to get more than a sympathetic ear from Pittsburgh City Council.

Council is set to conduct its initial vote on zoning for an anticipated casino tomorrow.

After a public hearing yesterday, members said they were hesitant to make major changes in a map of eligible areas proposed by the city planning commission.

Any major alteration by council would essentially restart the mapping process, said Planning Director Susan Golomb.

That didn't deter denizens of the stadium area from lobbying.

A casino "will kill that development" occurring between PNC Park and Heinz Field, said Barry C. Ford, president of development for Continental Real Estate Cos., which is developing that area.

His sentiment was echoed by representatives of the Pirates and Heinz Field manager PSSI Stadium Corp.

Equitable Resources "will not expand our operations on that location with gaming on the table," said that company's director of external affairs, David Spigelmyer. Equitable moved its headquarters to the North Shore early this year.

Merrill Stabile, the parking company owner who wants to build a casino on his land near PNC Park, said later that he won't be deterred from applying for a slots license by a Dec. 28 deadline set by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Critics of his proposal "have not even made an attempt to understand what we want to do," he said. "We're not just talking about building some ugly, barn-type building with slots in it."

Under the planning commission's proposal, the lone casino slated for the city would be allowed Downtown, at Station Square, near Mellon Arena, on the North Shore between the West End Bridge and the 16th Street Bridge, or on a hilltop in Hays.

"If it were up to me, I'd make sure that the North Shore were taken off that list," said Councilman Jim Motznik, who supports the Penguins' rival bid to run a slots parlor. "I don't believe any other council member is going to take [the North Shore] out of the mix," he added.

Councilman William Peduto, too, said he won't try to make major changes in the map.

Mayor-elect Bob O'Connor wants to see full economic development packages before weighing in on competing slots proposals, said his spokesman, Dick Skrinjar.

Any significant change made by council would require planning commission review. That might kill casino zoning for the year, forcing a new council and mayor to start fresh next year.

Mr. Peduto and Mr. Motznik said they will craft a nonbinding resolution urging that whoever owns the casino should have to finance a new arena.

The Gaming Control Board will decide who can build a casino in the city, but local zoning rules can restrict where it can locate and some design features.