Pittsburgh Comprehensive Plan

Pittsburgh is planning for its future on many fronts, with a range of approaches to ensure that the people who live, work and learn here are engaged in shaping the future of the City. This work includes citywide initiatives, including completed components of the Comprehensive Plan (Cultural Heritage and Open Space), the ONEPGH resilience strategy, the Climate Action Plan, and focused policies such as Complete Streets, as well as district initiatives, from our neighborhoods to our riverfronts. In terms of engagement it includes workshops, Deliberative Democracy sessions, the Civic Leadership Academy, and Task Forces such as the Affordable Housing Task Force.

This process builds on a rich history of planning in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh adopted the City’s first Zoning Code in 1923, the same year the Citizens Committee on City Plan of Pittsburgh published a series of reports, called the Pittsburgh Plan. Crucial earlier initiatives included the 1908 Pittsburgh Survey, a landmark study of Pittsburgh and its residents. Since that time the City, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Allegheny Conference, nonprofits, foundations, community groups and residents have all contributed towards planning for the City. In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of this work including the adoption of PreservePGH and OpenSpacePGH, comprehensive plans for cultural heritage and open space. Furthermore, the resilience strategy for Pittsburgh, OnePGH, and the P4 Report on People Planet Place Performance (p4) focus on “sustainability through inclusive innovation” (Resilient Pittsburgh, 18). Concurrent efforts have further defined the character and values of Pittsburgh, including “Equitable Development: The Path to an All-In Pittsburgh”. Through these plans and others, residents have participated in a broad cross-section of activities to plan the city’s future with participatory budgeting, the Civic Leadership Academy, and Deliberative Democracy Forums.

This is a defining moment to move forward with completing the Comprehensive Plan coordinated with the strategy and action plans of ONEPGH. This will ensure the interrelated challenges of housing, mobility and sustainable development are matched by a renewed approach to comprehensive public engagement.  A Comprehensive Plan, informed and guided by public engagement, provides the opportunity to set a long term, implementable framework for shaping the future of Pittsburgh. We look forward to updating you as we progress in this process.