Special Residential-30 (SpR-30) Legacy District in Raleigh
The SpR-30: Special Residential-30 district is a legacy zoning designation in the City of Raleigh that remains active from the previous Part 10 Zoning Code. Under the current Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), no new land may be zoned as SpR-30 and existing district boundaries cannot be modified, as these areas are intended for eventual replacement with modern UDO districts [Sec. 1.3.4].
Purpose and Regulatory Status
The SpR-30: Special Residential-30 district is categorized as a "Legacy District." The primary purpose of identifying these districts within the Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance is to maintain existing zoning rights for properties that have not yet been transitioned into the updated UDO framework. The City of Raleigh intends to eventually replace all legacy districts with modern UDO zoning classifications [Sec. 1.3.4].
Because SpR-30 is a legacy district, the City of Raleigh imposes strict limitations on its application and modification:
UDO Restrictions on Legacy Districts
| Category | Regulation for SpR-30 Legacy District |
|---|---|
| Mapping Authority | No new SpR-30 districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map [Sec. 1.3.4]. |
| Boundary Changes | Boundaries of an existing SpR-30 legacy district may not be modified [Sec. 1.3.4]. |
| Legal Existence | These districts exist as defined in the previous Part 10 Zoning Code rather than the current UDO Article series [Sec. 1.3.4]. |
| District Type | May exist as either a general use district or as a conditional district [Sec. 1.3.4]. |
Permitted Land Uses
The specific land uses permitted within an SpR-30: Special Residential-30 district are primarily governed by the previous Raleigh Part 10 Zoning Code. However, the Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance provides "Rules of Interpretation" for how these uses interact with the current code [Sec. 1.2.3]:
- Conditional Zoning: If a property's conditional zoning ordinance limits uses to those allowed in the legacy SpR-30 district, those limitations continue.
- UDO Conflict: If a legacy use is explicitly not allowed in the new corresponding UDO general use zoning district, the use limitation of the UDO prevails.
- Determination of Use Types: Limited uses and special uses for these properties are determined by the UDO general use district standards [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
The current Allowed Principal Use Table in the Raleigh UDO does not include a column for SpR-30, as it only details uses for modern districts like R-1 through R-10 and Mixed Use Districts [Sec. 6.1.4].
General Character
The general character of the SpR-30: Special Residential-30 district is that of a specialized residential area carried over from prior planning eras. It serves as a transitional placeholder. Properties zoned SpR-30 that are subject to new development or site plans are often required to follow modern UDO standards for specific site elements.
For instance, the City of Raleigh specifies that the UDO's regulations regarding height, setback, parking, landscaping, and screening take precedence over legacy or conditional district standards if the UDO regulations are more stringent [Sec. 1.2.3.B]. Additionally, all approval processes for properties within a legacy SpR-30 district must follow the regulations and procedures set forth in the current Raleigh UDO [Sec. 1.2.3.C].
Sections Cited
- Sec. 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Sec. 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Sec. 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table