After easing off-street parking requirement, Pittsburgh considers move to limit curb cuts

Pittsburgh officials are working to reduce the number of driveways required for new townhouses in the city.

Creating off-street parking requires a curb cut and makes walking on sidewalk potentially dangerous, Councilwoman Deb Gross said Tuesday during a council committee meeting.

Under a proposed change in the local zoning law recommended for approval Tuesday, new townhouses that provide off-street parking would be required to do so using backyards or access through side streets.

There’s “overwhelming support” for the change, Gross said Tuesday.

Gross’ district includes Lawrenceville, one of the neighborhoods that would be affected by it.

Last year, the city eliminated a requirement that new rowhouses provide off-street parking. The proposed change would require new townhomes that provide off-street parking to do so through their side yard or backyard.

The goal is to promote pedestrian safety by reducing the number of curb cuts that break up sidewalks, Gross said.

“They (pedestrians) should not be competing with cars,” she said.

Adding off-street parking also increases the cost of housing, Gross said.

“For lots of reasons, I think it’s a long overdue change,” she said.

The measure has the support of several Lawrenceville civic groups. No one who spoke at a public hearing on the change last week was against it.

Lawrenceville United Executive Director Dave Breingan called it a “step in the right direction.”

It would improve safety and promote walking in the neighborhood, Breingan said.

Andrea Lavin Kossis, the city’s riverfront development coordinator, said it would have an impact throughout the city and help preserve the character of older neighborhoods that were built before people predominantly used cars.

Reducing curb cuts in front of townhomes also allows for planting of more street trees and “respects the character” of these neighborhoods, Kossis said.

Council will consider adopting the change when it meets Tuesday. It has the support of Mayor Bill Peduto.

“Mayor Peduto supports this change, since it promotes safety and decreases the costs of home construction,” Peduto spokesman Tim McNulty said.