Raleigh TD: Thoroughfare District (Legacy Zoning)
The TD: Thoroughfare District is a "Legacy District" within the City of Raleigh that is currently being phased out and replaced by modern Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) zoning districts. Under the City of Raleigh regulations, no new TD districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map, and the boundaries of any existing TD districts cannot be modified [Sec. 1.3.4].
Administrative Status and Purpose
In the City of Raleigh, the TD: Thoroughfare District is categorized as a legacy classification. These districts were originally established under the older "Part 10 Zoning Code" and remain active only as placeholders until the City of Raleigh officially rezones the subject properties into a current UDO district [Sec. 1.3.4].
The primary administrative regulations for legacy districts in the City of Raleigh are summarized below:
| Regulation Category | Standard for TD District |
|---|---|
| District Type | Legacy District [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| New Applications | Prohibited; no new TD districts may be added [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Boundary Changes | Prohibited; existing boundaries may not be modified [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Future Status | To be replaced by a modern UDO zoning district [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Usage Type | May exist as a General Use or Conditional District [Sec. 1.3.4] |
Permitted Land Uses
The specific Allowed Principal Use Table in the City of Raleigh UDO does not include a column for the TD: Thoroughfare District [Sec. 6.1.4]. Because the TD classification is a legacy of the previous zoning code, its permitted uses are governed by the historical regulations of the "Part 10 Zoning Code" rather than the use regulations defined for current districts like Residential Mixed Use (RX-) or Commercial Mixed Use (CX-) [Sec. 1.3.4].
However, the City of Raleigh UDO clarifies that if a property is currently zoned as a legacy district, it may eventually be subject to the rules of interpretation when conflicts arise during the transition to new districts. If a conditional zoning ordinance limits uses to a former legacy district like TD, those limitations continue unless the use is no longer allowed in the new corresponding UDO general use district [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
General Character and Location
The character of the TD District is intrinsically tied to its location along major transit corridors. While the TD zoning district itself is a legacy category, the term "Thoroughfare" is defined by the City of Raleigh as a street delineated as a major or minor thoroughfare on the Comprehensive Plan or a major access corridor [Article 12.2].
In the City of Raleigh, these locations typically exhibit the following characteristics:
- High Visibility: Situated along gateways, freeways, expressways, or secondary arterials [Article 12.2].
- Transportation Focus: Located on streets designed to move large volumes of through traffic between different areas of the municipality [Article 12.2].
- Transitionary Nature: As a legacy district, these areas are often in a state of transition, awaiting redevelopment under modern urban frontages or mixed-use standards [Sec. 1.3.4].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Section 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Article 12.2. Defined Terms