Downtown Overlay District
Z-12-05 and TC-6-05
The text of the Downtown Overlay District (DOD) was adopted by City Council on December 7, 2004. This amendment to the Code was initiated through the Regulatory Reform element of the Livable Streets Program. A key component of this change is to simplify the existing layers of regulation by combining under one section of the Code the current overlay districts within the downtown area, with the exception of the Historic Overlay Districts. This new overlay district allows for the continuity of urban design through the use of exceptions to the minimum setback standards, maximum height standards, parking requirements, floor area ratio requirements and other regulations which vary between the numerous underlying zoning districts within the downtown area. Land use requirements dictated by the underlying zoning districts do not change.
This proposed overlay district also reorganizes the approval process as recommended by the Regulatory Reform element. Whereas all new development, expansions and conversions of buildings within the downtown area currently require approval by the City Council, the proposed regulations delegate administration or the Planning Commission as the approving authority for smaller projects and the conversion of buildings from one use to another.
Through Z-12-05, the City of Raleigh Planning Department has proposed adoption of the Downtown Overlay District for 734 acres in the downtown area. In conjunction with this rezoning action, Staff has proposed a text amendment TC-6-05 that would remove from the Code the Overlay Districts the DOD is replacing.
A public hearing on the combined item was held on March 15, after which it was referred to the Planning Commission. The item is currently pending in the Commission's Text Change Committee, awaiting additional comments from Citizen Advisory Councils in the downtown area and other stakeholders.
Input from these stakeholder groups is being collected and the item is scheduled to come back to the Committee on September 6, 2005. Prior to this meeting, Planning Department Staff will hold a Public Information Session on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 from 6-8 p.m. at the Raleigh Urban Design Center, located at 133 Fayetteville Street Mall.
The public is invited to drop by anytime during these hours to have questions answered and receive an update on the status and the future steps in the review process of the DOD, as well as learn about recommendations suggested by stakeholder groups for possible changes.
If you have a conflict with these hours, please direct your questions to Greg Hallam in the Planning Department at 516-2636 or Carter Pettibone in the Raleigh Urban Design Center at 807-8482.
For More Information Contact:
Greg Hallam
Senior Planner
Planning Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 304
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-516-2636
Carter Pettibone
Planner II
Planning Department
133 Fayetteville Street, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-807-8482
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