Pittsburgh Zoning Districts - RIV-RM Overview
By Kathleen Oldrey
Introduction
Zoning districts are a fundamental building block of zoning regulations and set the base use, height, and density standards for the area they cover. In some cases, the district also sets the required level of zoning review. Pittsburgh has over 50 distinct mapped zoning districts. This series of guides is unpacking each of these districts.
In this post, we provide an overview of the challenges when working on a site in the RIV-RM (Riverfront Mixed Residential) subdistrict. Other posts will cover the RIV-RM’s use regulations, the other subdistricts of the RIV district: RIV-MU, RIV-NS, RIV-GI, and RIV-IMU, and the complexities of the RIV regulations, including the RIV’s density, height, and parking regulations, design standards, environmental standards, as well as the application of the performance points system in the RIV district..
Refer to our Introduction to Pittsburgh’s Zoning Districts for the complete list of base zoning districts in the city. Pittsburgh’s interactive zoning map can be used to verify the project site’s zoning district.
Overview
The RIV-RM zoning subdistrict is the smallest of the RIV subdistricts, at 0.11 square miles or 0.23% of Pittsburgh. Like the RIV-MU, some RIV-RM areas are located along the riverfronts, while others are buffered from the river by other RIV areas. Areas zoned RIV-RM are located in the neighborhoods of Esplen, South Side Flats, and Troy Hill.
Challenges
The RIV-RM has the shortest purpose statement of any of the RIV subdistricts (905.04.A.2.a), which identifies the district’s purpose as high-density residential development.
The RIV-RM partially falls within the Riparian Zone, Floodplain, and Potential Steep Slope overlays, as well as within one Registered Community Organization (RCO) area, the South Side Community Council. These overlays may add requirements and public review processes to projects. The Interactive Zoning Map can identify overlay districts that may add requirements to projects in the RIV-RM.
Conclusion
Projects in the RIV-RM are subject to all requirements that apply to the RIV as a whole, including standards setting level of review by project scope. As in any zoning district, environmental and public process reviews may be required.
