City of Raleigh CM: Conservation Management District Parking Standards
Residential and commercial projects are not permitted in the CM: Conservation Management district of the City of Raleigh, as this district is strictly intended to preserve permanent open space for passive and recreational needs [Sec. 6.1.4, Sec. 4.1.1.A]. For the limited institutional and public uses allowed in the CM: Conservation Management district, off-street parking generally has no maximum vehicle limit but must adhere to a 50-foot minimum setback from all property lines and utilize approved permanent, non-erodible surfaces [Sec. 4.2.2, Sec. 7.1.2.C, Sec. 7.1.9].
Prohibited Residential and Commercial Uses
The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) establishes the CM: Conservation Management district to protect natural areas and limit the encroachment of buildings and impervious surfaces [Sec. 4.1.1.A]. According to the Allowed Principal Use Table, all forms of household living, group living, and commercial activities (including office, retail, and medical uses) are prohibited in the CM: Conservation Management district [Sec. 6.1.4].
Because these project types are prohibited, there are no established parking ratios for residential or commercial development within this specific district.
Parking Requirements for Allowed CM Uses
The only projects permitted in the CM: Conservation Management district are specific public and institutional uses. The City of Raleigh does not impose a maximum limit on the number of vehicle parking spaces for these uses, but it does mandate minimum short-term bicycle parking for park facilities.
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Max) | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks, Open Space, and Greenways | No maximum | 0.2 spaces per acre (minimum of 4) | None |
| Cemetery | No maximum | None | None |
| Minor Utilities | No maximum | None | None |
[Sec. 7.1.2.C]
Parking Location and Setbacks
In the CM: Conservation Management district, all development is regulated under the "Open Lot" building type [Sec. 1.4.2]. All on-site parking must be located behind the established protective yard setbacks.
| Setback Type | Minimum Required Distance |
|---|---|
| Primary Street Setback | 50 feet |
| Side Street Setback | 50 feet |
| Side Lot Line Setback | 50 feet |
| Rear Lot Line Setback | 50 feet |
[Sec. 4.2.2]
Furthermore, the City of Raleigh requires that any primary street, side street, or rear lot line that adjoins a street must comply with the landscape planting requirements of the Special Highway Overlay District-1 (SHOD-1) [Sec. 4.2.2]. This requires a 50-foot wide protective yard with the following plantings per 100 lineal feet:
- 7 Deciduous Shade Trees
- 3 Evergreen Shade Trees
- 6 Understory Trees
- 32 Shrubs (maximum 40% deciduous) [Sec. 5.3.1.F]
Parking Surface and Design Standards
All off-street parking areas in the City of Raleigh must be constructed with permanent, non-erodible surface treatments [Sec. 7.1.9].
Approved Materials
Parking surfaces must consist of one of the following:
- Porous or semi-porous monolithic or paver materials.
- Masonry or concrete pavers.
- Poured concrete or asphalt.
- Crushed stone or "crush and run" with a minimum depth of 4 inches, provided it is delineated with anchored landscape edging [Sec. 7.1.9].
Landscape Standards
For surface parking lots with more than 10 spaces, the City of Raleigh requires specific internal landscaping:
- Tree Coverage: At least one shade tree must be provided for every 2,000 square feet of parking area [Sec. 7.1.7.F].
- Interior Islands: A landscaped interior island (minimum 8 feet wide and 300 square feet) must be provided for every 10 parking spaces [Sec. 7.1.7.D].
- Terminal Islands: All rows of parking must end with a landscaped terminal island [Sec. 7.1.7.D.3].
Sections Cited
- Article 1.4. Building Types (Sec. 1.4.2)
- Article 4.1. General Provisions (Sec. 4.1.1)
- Article 4.2. Conservation Management (CM) (Sec. 4.2.2)
- Article 5.3. Corridor Overlays (Sec. 5.3.1)
- Article 6.1. Allowed Uses (Sec. 6.1.4)
- Article 7.1. Parking (Sec. 7.1.2, Sec. 7.1.7, Sec. 7.1.9)
- Article 12.2. Defined Terms