Pittsburgh Zoning Districts - OPR-C 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. 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 OPR-C (Oakland Public Realm Subdistrict C) zoning district. Additional posts dive into the use and density regulations for the OPR-C and provide an overview of the full OPR and the other subdistricts: OPR-A, OPR-B, and OPR-D.
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 OPR-C (Oakland Public Realm Subdistrict C: Fifth & Forbes District) zoning district covers 0.05 square miles or 0.10% of Pittsburgh. Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue are the main thoroughfares in the OPR-C, which extends from just past Bouquet Street at the northeast boundary and almost to Craft Avenue at the southwest boundary.
Challenges
Per Section 908.03.D.3, the purpose of the OPR-C subdistrict is to allow for a wide range of uses, including those that are often associated with large educational or other institutions, like student housing, lab space, and classrooms. Similar to the OPR-B, the OPR-C emphasizes first-floor retail with other uses above, and encourages the development of pedestrian space. An extensive list of uses is permitted by-right in the OPR-C, supporting the mixed-use goals of the subdistrict.
All of the OPR-C is located within a Registered Community Organization area and is subject to those requirements if the thresholds are met. Like the OPR-B, the OPR-C subdistrict has building line and transparency requirements. The transparency requirement is the same across both subdistricts, but a greater percentage of building frontage is required to conform to a building line in the OPR-C than in the OPR-B.
The OPR-C has the same parking provision as the OPR-B, requiring due diligence on the part of the applicant before accessory surface parking is permitted; however, unlike the OPR-B, much of the OPR-C is located in a parking reduction area, which reduces the amount of parking required for non-residential uses by 50%.
Conclusion
As with the OPR zoning district as a whole, proposed development in the OPR-C subdistrict may undergo public processes or more in-depth reviews than what would be required for basic (formerly known as “over-the-counter”) reviews. As in the OPR-B, parking research, design review, and RCO requirements may all be relevant during a review of proposed development in the OPR-C.
