Pittsburgh Gov Guide, A website of The Pittsburgh Foundation
The sky is ablaze at sunset over the Pittsburgh skyline taken from Schenley Park. Photo by Dave DiCello.

DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING 

The Department of City Planning =takes pride in developing planning for quality of life within the Pittsburgh. Neighborhood planners serve to empower communities to plan their future, providing a key link to city government and resources. The Department coordinates and develops the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a resource combining analysis of neighborhood and system-wide interrelated challenges, from affordable housing to community development and open space. They also conduct project development reviews related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, stormwater management and environmental reviews.

In June of 2019, OneStopPGH was launched online, providing a central location for all zoning, permitting and licensing needs. Users simply create an account to begin submitting information and required documents for review by Zoning and the Department of Permits,
Licenses and Inspections (PLI). This system limits users’ trips to the office, thereby allowing them a more efficient review process from city departments. For non-native English speakers, there is information available on the site in additional languages.

EngagePGH is a secondary online database of all Pittsburgh City Planning Projects. It allows visitors to choose categories, locations or specific projects through a search tool, and also has detailed information and photos to correspond with all projects the City has undertaken.

Download the full report 

More about the Office of City Planning

Below is a list of content in the Office of City Planning's Transition Brief (prepared by Thomas Consulting Group for The Pittsburgh Foundation). 

KEY FINDINGS

  • The Oakland Plan. This plan will be used to guide public and private investments in the area that generally include the neighborhoods of North Oakland, Central Oakland, South Oakland and West Oakland.
  • Legislative changes.  Legislation was introduced to allow City Council members a greater say over development projects within their individual districts by giving them authority to review applications for site plans, project development plans and planned developments, excluding those under 8,000 square feet and signage.
  • Cantini mosaic relocation. A 28-panel mosaic installation from 1964 must be relocated to make way for a new park connecting the Hill District and Downtown Pittsburgh. There are concerns with how and where these will be moved -- some issues raised by neighbors and others related to project funding. 
  • Inclusionary Zoning Initiative (IZ-O).  Inclusionary zoning ensures neighborhoods can offer new housing units at a variety of price points by tying the construction of affordable housing to that of market-rate
    housing.

MORE ABOUT THE OFFICE

  • Enabling legislation.
  • Mission.
  • Organizational chart
  • Budget.
  • Programs and projects. 
  • Opportunities and risks.
  • Reports.

Download the full report