Pittsburgh Zoning Map - RCO Layer
By Carolyn Ristau
Introduction
Pittsburgh’s interactive zoning map includes many layers besides the zoning districts, most of which relate to requirements within or adjacent to the zoning code. For an overview on how to use the interactive zoning map, see our introductory post.
To select different layers, click the stack of paper in the upper right corner. The layers available are listed below. Today’s post features the Registered Community Organization Areas layer, pictured above and in bold text below.
Zoning
Zoning Districts
Zoning Districts Outlines
Zoning Max. Height Overlay
Height Reduction Zone Overlay
1500’ Major Transit Buffer
Parking Reduction Areas
North Side Commercial Parking Prohibited Area
Baum Centre Zoning Overlay
Inclusionary Housing Overlay District
RCO (Registered Community Organization) Areas
City Divisions
DPW Divisions
Neighborhoods
Council Districts 2012
Council Districts 2022
Wards
Historic Preservation
Mexican War Street Historic Boundary
Individual City-Designated Properties
Pittsburgh City Historic Districts
Environment
RIV Riparian Buffer (125 Feet)
Stormwater Riparian Buffer
Floodplain Areas
Landslide Prone
Potential Steep Slopes Overlay Area
Undermined Areas
Addresses
Allegheny County
City Boundaries
Imagery 2021
The RCO Areas Layer
Overview
This layer of the interactive zoning map shows the boundaries of areas with Registered Community Organizations (RCO) and details of each RCO. RCOs are community groups that meet specific criteria and have received official recognition from the City through an application process with the Department of City Planning. To see details of a specific RCO, including organization name, primary contact, and meeting location and dates:
Click within the boundaries of the RCO area
Use the arrows to navigate between the pop-up windows as necessary
Relationship with Zoning
The regulations related to Registered Community Organizations are located in the Administrative Title of the City Code. Amidst the criteria for qualifying as an RCO and the process for registration and renewal is a section on Development Activities Meetings (DAMs).
Development activities meeting: The Department of City Planning shall require an applicant to coordinate with the applicable RCO to schedule a time, date and place of a public meeting to discuss the applicant's proposal. That meeting, in which the applicant must participate, must take place at least thirty (30) days prior to the first public hearing. The applicant shall then notify the Department of City Planning and neighborhood planner of the time, date and place of the public meeting. If there are two or more RCO's whose registered boundaries include the applicant's property, the Department of City Planning shall schedule a time, date and place of a public meeting to discuss the applicant's proposal with the applicable RCO's. That meeting, in which the applicant must participate, must take place at least thirty (30) days prior to the first public hearing. A meeting shall be required between an applicant and the applicable registered community organization(s) for any development activity that requires a public hearing and where such projects involve the following:
(1) A new structure erected of a size equal to or greater than two thousand four hundred (2,400) square feet; or
(2) An existing structure enlarged by a size equal to or greater than two thousand four hundred (2,400) square feet; or
(3) Any new construction that includes four (4) or more new residential dwelling units; or
(4) A new or enlarged parking area that contains at least ten (10) parking stalls; or
(5) Use Variances; or
(6) Zoning Map Amendments; or
(7) Project Development Plans; or
(8) Planned Developments - PDP; or
(9) Planned Developments - FLDP; or
(10) Master Development Plans; or
(11) Institutional Master Plans; or
(12) Any application submitted to the Historic Review Commission; or
(13) Any application submitted to the Art Commission.
In other words, any application to the Historic Review Commission (HRC) and/or the Art Commission for a location within the boundaries of an RCO is required to hold a Development Activities Meeting (DAM) prior to the public hearing with the commission regardless of whether zoning review is required. Applications within the boundaries of an RCO that will include a Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) or Planning Commission hearing are required to hold a Development Activities Meeting if they are for large projects as enumerated in the code section above.
Challenges
Small projects that are exempt from the Development Activities Meeting requirement for ZBA and Planning Commission hearings, but that involve an HRC or Art Commission hearing, are still required to hold a meeting.
Development Activities Meetings are required to be held at least 30 days prior to the project’s first public hearing, with a minimum 10-day notice to the community. The notice must include the date, time, and location of the meeting. This means that, excluding the time it takes staff to conduct the zoning review, a project required to hold a Development Activities Meeting and a ZBA hearing can spend a significant amount of time in posting periods (10-day DAM notice, 21-day ZBA hearing notice) and wait times (30 days between the DAM and the ZBA hearing), in addition to the ZBA decision period, which can be up to 45 days.
Conclusion
Start with Pittsburgh’s interactive zoning map to check if your project is within the boundaries of a Registered Community Organization. If it is and if your project will meet the thresholds for the Development Activities Meeting requirement, make sure your project includes a community presentation and has budgeted additional time to accommodate the Development Activities Meeting process.
