Status and Dimensional Standards for the TD: Thoroughfare District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, the TD: Thoroughfare District is classified as a Legacy District, meaning its specific dimensional standards and setback requirements are contained in the previous Raleigh Part 10 Zoning Code rather than this Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). While the UDO identifies the district, it does not list active front, side, or rear setbacks for it, as the district is slated for eventual replacement by modern UDO zoning designations [Section 1.3.4].
Classification of the TD: Thoroughfare District
The City of Raleigh maintains a list of zoning districts that originated under the prior zoning code. These are officially designated as Legacy Districts. The TD: Thoroughfare District is explicitly listed in this category [Section 1.3.4].
Because the TD: Thoroughfare District is a legacy designation:
- No New Districts: No new land in the City of Raleigh may be added to the TD: Thoroughfare District [Section 1.3.4].
- No Boundary Modifications: The boundaries of any existing TD: Thoroughfare District cannot be modified [Section 1.3.4].
- Eventual Replacement: All legacy districts, including the TD: Thoroughfare District, will eventually be replaced by a modern UDO zoning district [Section 1.3.4].
Dimensional and Setback Requirements
The provided Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance does not provide a table for the dimensional standards of legacy districts like the TD: Thoroughfare District. Instead, it provides standards for the newer Mixed Use and Residential districts.
However, the City of Raleigh regulates properties located along thoroughfares through other mechanisms, such as Frontages and Overlay Districts, which may apply to a property regardless of its legacy zoning.
Setback-Related Regulations for Thoroughfares
While the base setbacks for the TD: Thoroughfare District are not provided, the following thoroughfare-specific requirements from the City of Raleigh UDO often impact building and site placement:
| Requirement Type | Relevant Standard/Distance |
|---|---|
| Tree Conservation Area (Thoroughfare) | 50 feet perpendicular to the Thoroughfare [Section 9.1.4.A.8] |
| Fence/Wall Setback (Thoroughfare) | Screened if within 20 feet of the right-of-way [Section 7.2.8.C] |
| -SHOD-1 Protective Yard | 50-foot protective yard along Major Access Corridors [Section 5.3.1.D] |
| -SHOD-2 Protective Yard | 25-foot protective yard along Major Access Corridors [Section 5.3.1.D] |
Frontage Impacts on Setbacks
If a property in the TD: Thoroughfare District has a specific Frontage applied to it (such as the Detached Frontage or Parkway Frontage), those requirements control over base standards [Section 3.4.1].
Common Frontage Setbacks
| Frontage Type | Primary Street Setback (Min) |
|---|---|
| -PK: Parkway Frontage | 50 feet [Section 3.4.3] |
| -DE: Detached Frontage | Varies (Refer to Residential Infill rules) [Section 3.4.4] |
| -GR: Green Frontage | 20 feet (Min) / 50 feet (Max) [Section 3.4.6] |
Sections Cited
- Section 1.3.4 (Legacy Districts)
- Section 3.4.1 (Purpose and Intent - Frontage Requirements)
- Section 3.4.3 (Parkway Frontage -PK)
- Section 3.4.4 (Detached Frontage -DE)
- Section 3.4.6 (Green Frontage -GR)
- Section 5.3.1 (Special Highway Overlay Districts -SHOD-)
- Section 7.2.8.C (Fences and Walls Adjacent to Thoroughfares)
- Section 9.1.4 (Tree Conservation Area Allocation)