Modifications to Base Standards by the Downtown Overlay District (Legacy) and Downtown Mixed Use (DX) District
In the City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the DOD: Downtown Overlay District is classified as a Legacy District that is being phased out and replaced by current UDO designations [Section 1.3.4]. For properties within the downtown area, the UDO primarily modifies base standards through the DX-: Downtown Mixed Use District and the -TOD: Transit Overlay District, which impose strict parking maximums (limited to 2.0 spaces per unit), reduced building setbacks (as low as 5 feet), and specialized transparency requirements for ground-floor facades [Section 3.2.1, Section 7.1.3].
Legacy Status of the DOD Overlay
The City of Raleigh identifies the DOD: Downtown Overlay District as a legacy district from the previous "Part 10 Zoning Code." Under the current Unified Development Ordinance:
- No New Applications: No new legacy districts, including the DOD, may be added to the Official Zoning Map [Section 1.3.4].
- Boundary Restrictions: Existing boundaries of a legacy district cannot be modified [Section 1.3.4].
- Use Limitations: If a conditional zoning ordinance limits a property to uses from a legacy district, those limitations continue only if the use is also permitted in the new UDO general use district [Section 1.2.3].
- UDO Control: Where UDO standards for height, setback, parking, or landscaping are more stringent than those in a legacy or conditional zoning ordinance, the UDO standards control [Section 1.2.3].
Base Standard Modifications in Downtown (DX District)
Properties in the downtown area are now typically governed by the DX-: Downtown Mixed Use District, which modifies standard Mixed Use requirements to encourage higher density and urban form.
Dimensional and Setback Modifications
The City of Raleigh UDO reduces required setbacks in the DX District compared to other mixed-use districts to promote an urban "street wall."
| Standard (Minima) | RX, OX, NX, CX Districts | DX- (Downtown Mixed Use) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Street Setback | 10 feet | 5 feet |
| Side Street Setback | 10 feet | 5 feet |
| Side Lot Line Setback | 5 feet | 3 feet |
| Rear Lot Line Setback | 20 feet | 10 feet |
Note: These standards specifically apply to the "Detached House" building type within these districts [Section 3.2.1].
Height and Story Modifications
The DX District uses a numerical suffix (e.g., DX-3, DX-12, DX-40) to indicate the maximum allowed stories. A unique modification for the Downtown Mixed Use District allows for one additional story to be built on the lower portion of a lot that slopes downward from a primary street, provided the building does not include a basement [Section 1.5.7].
Facade and Transparency Requirements
The City of Raleigh requires higher levels of transparency for buildings in the downtown area to improve the pedestrian experience. For a Mixed Use Building type, the ground story transparency requirement is increased to 66% in the DX District, compared to 50% in other mixed-use districts [Section 3.2.6].
Specialized Parking Requirements
The UDO applies "Specialized Vehicle Parking Requirements" that strictly limit the amount of parking allowed in the Downtown District (DX-) and the Transit Overlay District (-TOD) [Section 7.1.3].
| Residential Unit Type | DX- and -TOD Parking Maximum |
|---|---|
| Studio or One-Bedroom | 1.5 spaces per unit |
| Standard Dwelling Unit | 2.0 spaces per unit |
Additionally, the ground story of any structured parking in the DX- District or an Urban Frontage must contain "active uses" (such as residential, commercial, or office space) located between the parking structure and the public sidewalk [Section 7.1.3].
Outdoor Amenity Area Exemptions
The City of Raleigh provides specific exemptions for the required Outdoor Amenity Area for projects located within the DX District [Section 1.5.3]:
- Mixed-Use Buildings: No amenity area is required if non-residential gross square footage is 10,000 SF or less and there are 16 or fewer residential units.
- Residential-Only Buildings: No amenity area is required for buildings with 16 or fewer dwelling units.
- Non-Residential Reduction: Any building that is 50% or more non-residential may reduce the required amenity area by 50% if the provided area is contiguous with and openly accessible from the sidewalk [Section 1.5.3].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3 Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4 Legacy Districts
- Section 1.5.3 Outdoor Amenity Area
- Section 1.5.7 Height
- Section 3.2.1 Detached House (Mixed Use)
- Section 3.2.6 Mixed Use Building
- Section 3.3.1 Height Applicability
- Section 5.5.1 Transit Overlay District (-TOD)
- Section 7.1.3 Specialized Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Section 7.2.5 Screening