Project Timeline

The general schedule below illustrates the time-frame established for each phase of this project, spanning an approximately 18 month period.

Wide cinematic riverscape of Pittsburgh with the sun rising behind silhouetted bridges, soft golden light reflecting on calm river surface, muted teal and amber tones.
General project schedule — approximately 18 month period.

Documented Milestones

Date Milestone
March 16, 2017 Waterfronts That Work Summit.
March 6, 2018 City Planning Commission voted to recommend the proposed RIV District to City Council.
June 5, 2018 — 2:00 PM Public Hearing on the RIV held at the City County Building, Fifth Floor, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
July 31, 2018 City Council approved the RIV District with amendments.

To speak at the June 5, 2018 hearing, individuals were required to call the City Clerk's Office at 412.255.2138 prior to the date. Testimony was limited to three minutes for registered speakers and one minute for others.

Public open houses were held during the process, with registration available via Eventbrite.

A project timeline page for a riverfront zoning effort typically lays out the sequence of planning milestones, public hearings, and legislative approvals that shape how the district's regulations are drafted and adopted. Visitors can usually track progress from early scoping sessions through draft releases, testimony periods, and final votes, helping residents and stakeholders understand where the process currently stands and what remains before the new standards take effect.

Spanning an extended period that often stretches across a year or more, such timelines reflect the deliberate pace of municipal code revisions. Early phases tend to focus on research and existing conditions analysis, while mid-stages introduce proposed zoning text, illustrative maps, and performance standards. The final stretch generally centers on commission reviews, council hearings, and the incorporation of amendments before formal approval.

Documented milestones often anchor the schedule, giving readers a clear sense of when significant actions occurred. These entries commonly mark summits or stakeholder workshops, planning commission recommendations, public hearings advertised in advance, and the formal legislative vote that enacts the new district. Posting this record online supports transparency and invites community members to verify the sequence of decisions.

Public engagement is a recurring thread throughout the timeline, with scheduled opportunities to review draft documents, submit written comments, and offer spoken testimony at hearings. Noticed meetings at accessible civic locations allow neighbors, property owners, and design professionals to weigh in on topics such as maximum building height, subdistrict boundaries, and streetscape standards along the rivers.

Because zoning updates can reshape permitted uses, transit-oriented development potential, and the character of the waterfront for decades, a well-maintained timeline helps the public follow along between formal notices. A glance at recent entries usually shows whether the council has approved the district, whether amendments remain under discussion, and when the next review or implementation step is expected to occur.

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Project Phases

  • Outreach and engagement
  • Draft text and mapping
  • Planning Commission review
  • Public hearing
  • City Council consideration

18 Month Window

The schedule covers an approximately 18 month period from initial outreach through Council action.

For More Information

Review the RIV District text and height maps, or reach out to the project coordinator at andrea.lavinkossis@pghriverfrontzoning.com.

City Planning: pittsburghpa.gov/dcp

Current zoning lookup: gis.pittsburghpa.gov/zoning

Panoramic riverfront view at dusk, soft purple and slate skyline fading into a calm dark river, atmospheric and empty.