Pittsburgh's City Planning Commission approved the plans for a 178-room North Shore hotel today, despite concerns from an organization seeking a community benefits agreement related to the development of property between the stadiums.

The 6-1 vote puts Columbus, Ohio-based Continental Real Estate Cos. within striking distance of a July groundbreaking on the $25 million Hyatt Place hotel, about a block from PNC Park. The developer needs to close on the purchase of the property from the Stadium Authority and get building permits.

Some commission members were uncomfortable voting for the hotel plan because Continental Vice President of Development Mike Hudec did not know how much his firm will pay the Stadium Authority for the land, or how talks were progressing with Pittsburgh United, a consortium seeking community benefits.

In the end, they were swayed by Zoning Administrator Susan Tymoczko's report that the project had the Stadium Authority's blessing, and Planning Commission Chair Wrenna Watson's reminder that the panel isn't supposed to consider the absence of a community benefits agreement.

Continental is the developer of the land between the stadiums under an option agreement involving that firm, the Steelers, the Pirates and the Stadium Authority. Pittsburgh United contends that the option agreement may not be viable, because development has proceeded too slowly.

Barney Oursler of Pittsburgh United said that group "will call for a special session of City Council to investigate the sale of this property" and other transactions under the option agreement.

"We believe City Council needs to intervene in this."