The Raleigh planning department released its draft Unified Development Ordinance April 6. The public has until June 6 to make comments before a public hearing June 7. In order to understand what’s in this new zoning code, the Record is reading it cover to cover and will be writing about what we find.
Chapter 6: Use Regulations. This is where we really dig into the nitty-gritty of the new zoning code. Tomorrow we will dig into some of the specifics about the changes proposed for use regulations, but first, let’s get an overview.
The Use Regulations chapter really spells out district by district, use by use, what can go where. See pages three through six for a big chart showing what’s permitted, what requires a permit and what can’t go where across the city.
Greg Hallam, planning manager for the city, told The Record that the regulations are pretty much the same from the current zoning code, with a couple of key exceptions.
In an email to The Record, Hallam breaks down what’s new in use regulations:
In drafting Chapter 6, the new Use Table was intended to replicate the current Use Table with the exception of moving all of the Special Use Permit approvals to the Board of Adjustment (City Council is currently the approving authority for eight Special Uses). Other changes include:
- Converting some Special Uses to Limited Uses (retaining the same review conditions)
- Allows retail, office and art galleries to locate within the high density residential district (RX) – limits size and location of establishment and must be located within a vertical mixed-use building.
- Allows retail and art galleries to locate within the office district (OX) – limits size and location of establishment and must be located within a vertical mixed-use building.
- No longer permits self-service storage (mini-warehouse storage facilities) to locate within commercial-retail zoning districts (limited to the [Industrial Mixed Use] and [Heavy Industrial] districts).
- No longer permits car washes and major auto repair to locate within the neighborhood-retail commercial district (limited to [Commercial Mixed Use] and [Industrial Mixed Use]).
- Introduces Community Gardens as an allowed principal use within Residential Districts (Special Use).
