City of New Kensington, PA Zoning Districts

[Amended 1-10-2005 by Ord. No. 10-04; 9-11-2006 by Ord. No. 2-06; 8-1-2022 by Ord. No. 3-22]

District	Description
OS-1	Open Space - Residential
	Purpose: To preserve natural areas while allowing low-density single-family development, open space and recreation, appropriate public uses and resort and commercial recreation facilities
OS-2	Open Space - Limited Nonresidential
	Purpose: To preserve natural areas while allowing limited open space and recreation uses, appropriate public uses and resort and commercial recreation facilities, particularly those uses oriented to the riverfront.
OS-3	Open Space - Special Conservation
	Purpose: To preserve natural areas, particularly steep slope areas, allowing for the limited recreational development of valley areas, including appropriate public uses and indoor and outdoor public and commercial recreation facilities
R-1	Low-Density Residential
	Purpose: To provide opportunities for low-density single-family development and compatible public and accessory uses
R-2	Medium-Density Residential
	Purpose: To preserve existing neighborhoods and provide opportunities for single-family and two-family development and compatible public and accessory uses
R-3	High-Density Residential
	Purpose: To preserve existing neighborhoods and provide opportunities for single-family, two-family and multifamily development at moderate densities and compatible group living arrangements, public and accessory uses
R-4	Transitional Residential/Commercial
	Purpose: To preserve existing neighborhoods and provide opportunities for single-family, two-family and multifamily development at higher densities and compatible group living arrangements, public and accessory uses and transitional commercial uses in appropriate locations
C-1	Local Commercial
	Purpose: To provide opportunities for local commercial development in locations convenient to the residents of the immediate area, along with opportunities for multifamily and group living arrangements and appropriate public uses
C-2	General Commercial
	Purpose: To provide for both local and general commercial needs for the residents of the region in locations accessible to the regional highway network, along with opportunities for multifamily and group living arrangements and appropriate public uses
C-3	Central Business District
	Purpose: To preserve the City's downtown area and provide opportunities for both residential and commercial development along with appropriate public uses
C-4	Mixed Commercial/Light Industrial
	Purpose: To allow for the redevelopment of a portion of the Fifth Avenue Redevelopment Area for a mix of commercial and light industrial uses and to provide a transition between the downtown commercial area and other areas of the City zoned industrial
I-1	Light Industrial
	Purpose: To provide for limited industrial and special industrial uses in appropriate locations near rail, water and highway transportation
I-2	General Industrial
	Purpose: To provide for a variety of light and heavy industrial and manufacturing uses in locations along the railways and riverfront
Design Review Overlay District	Overlay which enhances properties by ensuring adequate landscaping, circulation, pedestrian facilities, building orientation and attractive architecture is in compliance with the New Kensington Design Guidelines, and staff and Planning Commission recommendation is required for any visible exterior improvement to nonresidential, residential, multifamily sites, buildings or structures visible to the public rights-of-way.
HD Historic Overlay District	Overlay meant to promote, preserve and protect historic buildings, structures, sites and neighborhoods which serve as visible reminders of the City's heritage that are in compliance with the New Kensington Design Guidelines, and staff or Commission approval of certificates of appropriateness are required for any exterior changes to a building or site.
RD River Overlay District	Overlay to connect the riverfront and protect the view from the river or its banks to be intermittently accessible by roads, pedestrian walkways or other means to access the river front. This overlay will provide an opportunity to create new development projects designed to provide public access to the Allegheny River and to be pedestrian friendly in both design and scale and to encourage creativity of design and the residential component that New Kensington needs to move into the future. Waterways attract people. The riverfront that might not always be industrial as it was but perhaps as it should be with people living there for a vital economic future.

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Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is on file in the City offices.