"It's got to fit into the landscape." That's what Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said in September of the proposed parking garage for the Majestic Star Casino on the North Side.

Early last week, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asked for changes to the massive garage and a commitment to an environmentally friendly green casino with a prohibition on smoking in at least part of it.

How, then, were Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ravenstahl able to smile so broadly Friday when they announced a deal with casino owner Don Barden that accomplishes so little?

Mr. Barden has agreed to add decorative screening to the Allegheny River side of the parking garage, which will sit behind the casino. He previously had agreed to have screening on other sides of the garage, a device that improves the structure's appearance. But Mr. Barden continues to reject more drastic modifications to his 119-foot garage, which on the North Shore will be dwarfed only by the highest point of Heinz Field, which is 156 feet.

The city's Contextual Design Advisory Panel suggested Mr. Barden increase the atrium at the front of the casino, and the Pittsburgh Civic Design Coalition, a consortium of seven organizations that advocate for quality design, questions why the structure needs to be so large. Rebecca Flora, executive director of the Green Building Alliance, said the 3,800-space garage is akin to a suburban shopping mall that builds parking based on the number of spaces needed the day after Thanksgiving, typically the busiest shopping day of the year.

As for smoking, it is encouraging that Mr. Barden, who has said before that he would have nonsmoking sections in his bars and restaurants, now says the restaurants and meeting spaces will be smoke-free. So far, though, he has not committed to any nonsmoking sections on the gambling floor.

Pittsburghers want a successful casino, but not one whose facilities foul their lungs or mar the look of their spectacular riverfront. We're anxious to learn more details about the agreement worked out with Mr. Barden. We're not smiling yet.