Pittsburgh Zoning Districts - RIV Performance Points
By Kathleen Oldrey and Carolyn Ristau
Introduction to Performance Points
The Riverfront (RIV) district is one of the zoning districts where the city’s Performance Points system (Chapter 915.07) can be applied. The Department of City Planning (DCP) has developed a series of guides to help navigate the Performance Points system that can be found on their website. This post is Details Reviewed LLC’s interpretation of the regulations of the Performance Points system specific to the RIV zoning district aided by DCP’s process guides.
Overall, the Performance Points system establishes goals in the following categories:
High Performing Buildings - New Construction
[Reserved]
On-Site Energy Generation
Affordable Housing
Rainwater
Building Reuse
Riverfront Public Access Easements, Trails and Amenities
Neighborhood Ecology
Public Art
Urban Fabric
Transit-Oriented Development
Equitable Development
Fresh Food Access
Each category has two or more goals; by achieving a goal, a proposed development can gain a number of points associated with that goal. Depending on the category, projects may be able to receive additional points by achieving multiple goals within that category. The number of points associated with each goal is initially defined in Chapter 915.07. For example, in the category of On-Site Energy Consumption - New Construction, if a project achieves an on-site energy use that is below the national median by 80% or more, it can gain three points.
The number of points for a goal may vary based on the zoning district in which the project is located; if the number of points available for a certain goal in a zoning district is different than what’s listed in Chapter 915.07, it is noted in the district’s zoning code chapter.
Performance Points in the RIV
Ten of the Performance Points categories established in Chapter 915.07 can be applied in the RIV as follows (based on Chapter 905.04.K.1 and Chapter 915.07.D). The details below are the best assumptions that we can make since the Performance Points System in Chapter 915 was updated without those updates being aligned with the existing use of the system in the RIV.
Note: The zoning code standards listed in this post were those available in the online zoning code as of February 2023. Whenever there is a code amendment it often takes months for the online version to be updated. Zoning staff have access to the most recent code amendments, which can also be found on the city’s online legislation center.
On-Site Energy Consumption - New Construction
This category has been removed and our best assumption is that this means points can no longer be earned in this category.
According to our dive into Performance Points last year for the Uptown Public Realm, the points that were formerly available under this category were:
Site energy use intensity at AIA 2030 Commitment average savings levels = 1
Site energy use intensity at least 70% below national median = 2
Site energy use intensity at least 80% below national median = 3
This category is now named High Performing Buildings - New Construction in the parent section of the ordinance regarding Performance Points (915.07.D) and points can be earned in this category as follows:
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Section C407 Total Building Performance criteria or ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2019 Appendix G Building Performance Rating Method = 1
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Section C407 Total Building Performance criteria or ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2019 Appendix G Building Performance Rating Method and buildings shall be designed and constructed with no gas or fossil-fuel fired equipment as described in Zero Code 2.0 = 2
Demonstrate compliance with International Energy Conservation Code Appendix CC: Zero Energy Commercial Building Provisions = 3
Combining criteria one and three = 5
Combining criteria two and three = 6
On-Site Energy Consumption - Existing Buildings
This category has been removed and our best assumption is that this means points can no longer be earned in this category.
According to our dive into Performance Points last year for the Uptown Public Realm, the points that were formerly available under this category were:
Site energy use intensity at least 20% below national median
Site energy use intensity at least 35% below national median
Site energy use at least 50% below national median
On-Site Energy Generation
To earn points in this category requires at least one point from the On-Site Energy Consumption categories above; however, since those categories have been removed, the DCP process guide for this category indicates that the new category “High Performing Buildings - New Construction” is the one from which a point is necessary to be eligible for points in this category.
25%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources = 1
50%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources or connecting to distributed energy systems = 2
75%+ of energy use generated from on-site renewable sources = 3
Affordable Housing
5% - 14.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 1
5% - 14.9%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 2
5% - 14.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 2
15% - 19.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 2
15% - 19.9%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 4
15% - 19.9%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 4
20%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 4
20%+ of units for sale are affordable housing for persons at or below 80% AMI = 6
20%+ of units for rent are affordable housing for persons at or below 60% AMI = 6
Rainwater
Required native species must be chosen from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (DCNR's) Native Wild Plant Species Accounts
All vegetated Green Infrastructure must use at least 50% Native Plants
50%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installation = 1
15%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 1
75%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installations = 2
30%+ of the first two (2) inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 2
100%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and managed using Preferred Stormwater Management Technology installations = 3
45%+ of the first 2 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces captured and reused on-site = 3
Riverfront Public Access Easements, Trails and Amenities
For parcels that abut the riverfront and are not separated by a right-of-way, provision of a riverfront public access easement held by the City of Pittsburgh of at least 20 feet in width and runs the entire length of the parcel's riverfront boundary = 1
For sites where no trail exists and a public easement has been made, construction of a trail that meets all City standards as well as national standards of Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and that connects to existing adjacent trails when feasible = 2
For sites where an existing trail is present and a public easement has been made, improvement of trail to City standards as well as national standards of Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and that connects to existing adjacent trails when feasible = 1
For sites where a riverfront or riverfront-adjacent trail is not feasible, development provides public access that allows for or contributes to continuous mobility parallel the riverfront = 2
Provision of public restrooms accessible from the public riverfront trail, open during expected hours of trail use = 2
Provision of public access easement and passageway built in accordance with Section 905.04.G.5(a) and (b), providing connections from public rights-of-way to the riverfront = 1
Neighborhood Ecology
Ground-level surface parking area is designed so that a minimum of 50% of the total paved area is shaded by solar panels = 1
The top level of a parking structure is designed so that a minimum of 50% of the total area is shaded by solar panels = 1
Public Art
The percent of estimated gross construction cost applied to public art includes artist engagement; design, fabrication and placement of art; insurance; and funds dedicated for ongoing maintenance.
At least 1% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 1
At least 2% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 2
At least 3% of the estimated gross construction cost is applied directly to the creation and maintenance of on-site public art as defined by the URA's Public Art Resource Guide for Developers, OR made as a one-time contribution to the City's Public Art Fund for use by the City for art on publicly owned lands within the same neighborhood = 3
Urban Fabric
Structured parking is designed to allow for conversion to other (non-parking) uses = 2
Transit-Oriented Development
Site is within ½ mile networked walkshed of rapid service routes = 1
On-site transit station for rapid service routes, designed as an integral part of the development project and to meet Port Authority [PRT] standards for transit stations = 3
How the Points Can be Used
In the RIV, bonus points earned by meeting the listed goals can be used to permit either a reduced riparian buffer area or increased building height. Each point is worth a 10-foot reduction to the riparian buffer, or a 10-foot height increase, respectively.
The same documentation guidelines apply in the RIV as in other districts where bonus points are available: in order for any bonus points to be awarded, it must be documented in the application materials that the related goals are being achieved. The requirements for what documentation is required for each goal and when it is required to be provided is outlined in Chapter 915.07.E: Enforcement.
Conclusion
Bonus points can be used in the RIV to reduce the riparian buffer requirement or increase the permitted building height when certain criteria are met. Additional documentation will be required to verify that the project does or will meet this criteria.
