Rocky Mount City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 15

- DOUGLAS BLOCK OVERLAY DISTRICT DBOD

Douglas Block Overlay District (DBOD). The Douglas Block Overlay District (DBOD), described on the following pages, focuses on the preservation and rehabilitation of existing historic structures and their elements where feasible and enables new development in a creative manner where appropriate. The goal of new construction in the DBOD is to ensure compatibility with existing and new development.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1501.- Purpose.

The purpose of the DBOD is to complement existing downtown initiatives and provide additional development incentives. Specifically:

• Complement the city's Tier I comprehensive plan, local downtown historic district and downtown streetscape plan to achieve specific land use and design objectives.

• Accommodate mixed-use buildings and parcels with neighborhood-serving retail, service and office uses on the ground floor and residential units above the non-residential space.

• Encourage the revitalization of the downtown core, complement the area's character and environmental appeal and encourage the preservation and reuse of historic structures.

• Promote new infill residential and non-residential development in a comprehensive matter.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1502. - Establishment and designation.

The Douglas Block Overlay Zoning District is established in conjunction with the base B-4 and B-5 zoning districts. Except as modified by the overlay zoning district, the provisions of the B-4 and B-5 zoning districts shall apply to all development within the boundary of the designated area. In the event the regulations conflict, the applicable overlay zoning district regulations shall prevail.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1503. - Design guidelines.

All properties located within the Rocky Mount Central City Local Historic District must comply with design guidelines adopted by the historic preservation commission.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1504. - Applicability.

The extent and limits of the Douglas Block Overlay District (DBOD) are described as follows:

BEGINNING at a common corner of Gerald L Holland (DB. 1392 PG. 348) and the City of Rocky Mount (DB. 1420 PG. 932) and having NAD 83 coordinates of 801375.688 and 2357309.25, thence S 79°29'38" E a distance of 118.23 feet; thence S 11°2'1" W a distance of 94.05 feet; thence S 11°37'34" W a distance of 84.36 feet; thence S 10°41'5" W a distance of 53.94 feet; thence S 9°1'16" W a distance of 57.40 feet; thence S 9°8'39" W a distance of 157.31 feet; thence S 17°23'32" W a distance of 83.64 feet; thence S 17°32'21" W a distance of 70.93 feet; thence N 71°41'19" W a distance of 43.45 feet; thence S 16°49'38" W a distance of 31.00 feet; thence S 72°21'29" E a distance of 42.98 feet; thence S 17°31'55" W a distance of 44.92 feet; thence S 72°20'52" E a distance of 45.31 feet; thence S 71°14'15" E a distance of 138.35 feet; thence S 71°22'11" E a distance of 34.82 feet; thence S 70°46'37" E a distance of 20.12 feet; thence S 73°32'23" E a distance of 45.88 feet; thence S 18°21'48" W a distance of 47.61 feet; thence N 75°16'6" W a distance of 29.99 feet; thence N 71°43'6" W a distance of 36.86 feet; thence N 71°36'44" W a distance of 61.70 feet; thence S 17°30'44" W a distance of 61.31 feet; thence S 18°19'59" W a distance of 44.51 feet; thence S 27°45'30" W a distance of 10.74 feet; thence S 43°27'6" W a distance of 13.09 feet; thence S 44°39'3" W a distance of 72.57 feet; thence S 71°15'31" E a distance of 22.18 feet; thence S 18°24'39" W a distance of 47.49 feet; thence N 71°43'11" W a distance of 7.37 feet; thence S 17°54'45" W a distance of 26.01 feet; thence S 18°15'54" W a distance of 146.77 feet; thence N 71°53'21" W a distance of 76.81 feet; thence N 17°8'26" E a distance of 139.12 feet; thence N 17°21'52" E a distance of 20.10 feet; thence N 17°26'33" E a distance of 43.37 feet; thence N 16°29'15" E a distance of 59.90 feet; thence N 17°51'23" E a distance of 9.78 feet; thence N 17°44'40" E a distance of 9.84 feet; thence N 16°45'32" E a distance of 131.78 feet; thence N 71°41'11" W a distance of 363.41 feet; thence N 11°22'24" E a distance of 121.70 feet; thence N 8°47'16" E a distance of 13.09 feet; thence N 11°51'16" E a distance of 238.52 feet; thence S 83°53'43" E a distance of 184.55 feet; thence N 17°45'46" E a distance of 295.89 feet; to the point and place of BEGINNING, containing 5.174 acres, more or less;

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1505. - Allowed uses.

In order to accomplish the general purpose of promoting residential and mixed use development in downtown, special consideration is given to establishing new land uses in addition to the established uses in the B-5 district.

The following list illustrates the land uses that are permitted:

Table 15-1 Permitted Uses

Assembly: assembly hall, coliseum, movie theater, stadium

Automobile off street parking

Automobile off street parking deck/garage commercial

Bakery on-premises and retail only

Beauty shop/barber service

Childcare center in nonresidential district (see note 8 of Table 5-2)

Dwelling multifamily

Apartments

Condos and town homes

Farmers' market

Financial institutions (bank, savings and loan companies, and other financial activities)

Funeral homes

Government operation

Health club/gym spa

Historical preservation commercial use

Library

Lodge (fraternal organizations)

Hotel (see note 16 of Table 5-2)

Museum/art gallery

Nightclub, bar and tavern

Office use (of a doctor, dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, optometrist, physiotherapist, or other medically-oriented profession)

Office use (with no on premise stock of goods for sale to the general public and the operations and services which are customarily conducted by written, verbal, or mechanical means

Open/passive space

Public recreation, such as community center building, parks, museum, playgrounds, and similar facilities operated on a nonprofit basis

Private recreation club such as swimming, tennis, racket ball, etc.

Radio or television studio activities only

Recreation or amusement enterprise (conducted outside a building for profit); (see note 20 of Table 5-2)

Restaurant

Retailing or servicing with operations conducted and merchandise displayed inside and/or outside a building and not otherwise listed herein (see note 12 and 22 of Table 5-2)

School: commercial, trade or vocational (i.e. dance studio, karate, instructional teaching)

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2009-107, § 7, 10-12-09)

Sec. 1506. - Development criteria.

Development regulations—The following regulations (in this section) apply to all infill development in the DBOD.

Building guidelines.

• Commercial establishment size limits. The gross floor area of commercial establishments shall not exceed fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

• Indoor/outdoor operations. All permitted uses except farmers market, must be conducted within completely enclosed buildings unless otherwise expressly authorized. This requirement does not apply to off-street parking or loading areas, automated teller machines or outdoor dining areas.

• Floor-to-floor heights and floor area of ground-floor spaces.

All commercial floor space provided on the ground floor of a mixed-use building must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of ten (10) feet, except where the furnished floor levels rise from the street level because of sloping topography.

All commercial floor space provided on the ground floor of a mixed-use building must contain the following minimum floor area for each building:

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty-five (25) percent of the lot area (whichever is greater) on lots with street frontage of less that fifty (50) feet.

ii.

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty (20) percent of the lot area on lots with fifty (50) feet or more of street frontage.

Lot area per unit (density). The minimum lot area per unit shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet for mixed-use buildings and one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet for all other buildings.

• Setbacks. Front setbacks for all new construction (infill) shall be in harmony with the adjacent buildings and the DBOD district. No side or rear setbacks are required.

• Building height. The maximum heights of new construction (infill) shall be three (3) stories.

• Orientation of buildings. Buildings must have a front entrance that faces the street r-o-w. Buildings with the rear facing a public parking lot shall have an enhanced façade and entry way that is as presentable for public view as the front entrance.

Signage.

• Wall signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot of linear building frontage per establishment.

• Free standing signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot per linear foot of lot frontage up to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) square feet Placement: Five (5) feet from property line.

• Prohibited signs.

Off premise signs are prohibited.

Portable signs of any kind are prohibited except sandwich board signs.

Roof top signs are prohibited unless historic in nature.

• Sidewalk signs. Sandwich board signs shall be allowed in the district but shall not be an impediment to pedestrian traffic. Dimensions: Shall not exceed size and area of four (4) x eight (8) feet.

Parking requirements.

• Parking ratio. No off-street parking is required for residential uses or non-residential uses.

• Loading bays. Any commercial use shall be within two hundred (200) feet of loading bay. Loading area shall be striped and paved in the field.

• Paving. All parking shall be paved.

Landscaping. All off street parking spaces shall be within sixty (60) feet of a large tree. Species must be approved by HPC if planting is located in the local historic district.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1507. - Subdivision of land.

Individual subdivision of buildings shall be permitted. All subdivision shall comply with the LDC and NC State building code regulations.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1508. - Site plan and re-zoning application.

Any approval of development will be based upon a site plan and submitted to the department of development services office for scheduling on the planning board's agenda.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2018-78, § 2, 8-13-18)

Rocky Mount City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 15

- DOUGLAS BLOCK OVERLAY DISTRICT DBOD

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1501.- Purpose.

The purpose of the DBOD is to complement existing downtown initiatives and provide additional development incentives. Specifically:

• Complement the city's Tier I comprehensive plan, local downtown historic district and downtown streetscape plan to achieve specific land use and design objectives.

• Accommodate mixed-use buildings and parcels with neighborhood-serving retail, service and office uses on the ground floor and residential units above the non-residential space.

• Encourage the revitalization of the downtown core, complement the area's character and environmental appeal and encourage the preservation and reuse of historic structures.

• Promote new infill residential and non-residential development in a comprehensive matter.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1502. - Establishment and designation.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1503. - Design guidelines.

All properties located within the Rocky Mount Central City Local Historic District must comply with design guidelines adopted by the historic preservation commission.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1504. - Applicability.

The extent and limits of the Douglas Block Overlay District (DBOD) are described as follows:

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1505. - Allowed uses.

The following list illustrates the land uses that are permitted:

Table 15-1 Permitted Uses

Assembly: assembly hall, coliseum, movie theater, stadium

Automobile off street parking

Automobile off street parking deck/garage commercial

Bakery on-premises and retail only

Beauty shop/barber service

Childcare center in nonresidential district (see note 8 of Table 5-2)

Dwelling multifamily

Apartments

Condos and town homes

Farmers' market

Financial institutions (bank, savings and loan companies, and other financial activities)

Funeral homes

Government operation

Health club/gym spa

Historical preservation commercial use

Library

Lodge (fraternal organizations)

Hotel (see note 16 of Table 5-2)

Museum/art gallery

Nightclub, bar and tavern

Office use (of a doctor, dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, optometrist, physiotherapist, or other medically-oriented profession)

Office use (with no on premise stock of goods for sale to the general public and the operations and services which are customarily conducted by written, verbal, or mechanical means

Open/passive space

Public recreation, such as community center building, parks, museum, playgrounds, and similar facilities operated on a nonprofit basis

Private recreation club such as swimming, tennis, racket ball, etc.

Radio or television studio activities only

Recreation or amusement enterprise (conducted outside a building for profit); (see note 20 of Table 5-2)

Restaurant

Retailing or servicing with operations conducted and merchandise displayed inside and/or outside a building and not otherwise listed herein (see note 12 and 22 of Table 5-2)

School: commercial, trade or vocational (i.e. dance studio, karate, instructional teaching)

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2009-107, § 7, 10-12-09)

Sec. 1506. - Development criteria.

Development regulations—The following regulations (in this section) apply to all infill development in the DBOD.

Building guidelines.

• Commercial establishment size limits. The gross floor area of commercial establishments shall not exceed fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

• Floor-to-floor heights and floor area of ground-floor spaces.

All commercial floor space provided on the ground floor of a mixed-use building must contain the following minimum floor area for each building:

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty-five (25) percent of the lot area (whichever is greater) on lots with street frontage of less that fifty (50) feet.

ii.

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty (20) percent of the lot area on lots with fifty (50) feet or more of street frontage.

Lot area per unit (density). The minimum lot area per unit shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet for mixed-use buildings and one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet for all other buildings.

• Setbacks. Front setbacks for all new construction (infill) shall be in harmony with the adjacent buildings and the DBOD district. No side or rear setbacks are required.

• Building height. The maximum heights of new construction (infill) shall be three (3) stories.

Signage.

• Wall signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot of linear building frontage per establishment.

• Free standing signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot per linear foot of lot frontage up to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) square feet Placement: Five (5) feet from property line.

• Prohibited signs.

Off premise signs are prohibited.

Portable signs of any kind are prohibited except sandwich board signs.

Roof top signs are prohibited unless historic in nature.

Parking requirements.

• Parking ratio. No off-street parking is required for residential uses or non-residential uses.

• Loading bays. Any commercial use shall be within two hundred (200) feet of loading bay. Loading area shall be striped and paved in the field.

• Paving. All parking shall be paved.

Landscaping. All off street parking spaces shall be within sixty (60) feet of a large tree. Species must be approved by HPC if planting is located in the local historic district.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1507. - Subdivision of land.

Individual subdivision of buildings shall be permitted. All subdivision shall comply with the LDC and NC State building code regulations.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1508. - Site plan and re-zoning application.

Any approval of development will be based upon a site plan and submitted to the department of development services office for scheduling on the planning board's agenda.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2018-78, § 2, 8-13-18)

Rocky Mount City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 15

- DOUGLAS BLOCK OVERLAY DISTRICT DBOD

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1501.- Purpose.

The purpose of the DBOD is to complement existing downtown initiatives and provide additional development incentives. Specifically:

• Complement the city's Tier I comprehensive plan, local downtown historic district and downtown streetscape plan to achieve specific land use and design objectives.

• Accommodate mixed-use buildings and parcels with neighborhood-serving retail, service and office uses on the ground floor and residential units above the non-residential space.

• Encourage the revitalization of the downtown core, complement the area's character and environmental appeal and encourage the preservation and reuse of historic structures.

• Promote new infill residential and non-residential development in a comprehensive matter.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1502. - Establishment and designation.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1503. - Design guidelines.

All properties located within the Rocky Mount Central City Local Historic District must comply with design guidelines adopted by the historic preservation commission.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1504. - Applicability.

The extent and limits of the Douglas Block Overlay District (DBOD) are described as follows:

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1505. - Allowed uses.

The following list illustrates the land uses that are permitted:

Table 15-1 Permitted Uses

Assembly: assembly hall, coliseum, movie theater, stadium

Automobile off street parking

Automobile off street parking deck/garage commercial

Bakery on-premises and retail only

Beauty shop/barber service

Childcare center in nonresidential district (see note 8 of Table 5-2)

Dwelling multifamily

Apartments

Condos and town homes

Farmers' market

Financial institutions (bank, savings and loan companies, and other financial activities)

Funeral homes

Government operation

Health club/gym spa

Historical preservation commercial use

Library

Lodge (fraternal organizations)

Hotel (see note 16 of Table 5-2)

Museum/art gallery

Nightclub, bar and tavern

Office use (of a doctor, dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, optometrist, physiotherapist, or other medically-oriented profession)

Office use (with no on premise stock of goods for sale to the general public and the operations and services which are customarily conducted by written, verbal, or mechanical means

Open/passive space

Public recreation, such as community center building, parks, museum, playgrounds, and similar facilities operated on a nonprofit basis

Private recreation club such as swimming, tennis, racket ball, etc.

Radio or television studio activities only

Recreation or amusement enterprise (conducted outside a building for profit); (see note 20 of Table 5-2)

Restaurant

Retailing or servicing with operations conducted and merchandise displayed inside and/or outside a building and not otherwise listed herein (see note 12 and 22 of Table 5-2)

School: commercial, trade or vocational (i.e. dance studio, karate, instructional teaching)

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2009-107, § 7, 10-12-09)

Sec. 1506. - Development criteria.

Development regulations—The following regulations (in this section) apply to all infill development in the DBOD.

Building guidelines.

• Commercial establishment size limits. The gross floor area of commercial establishments shall not exceed fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

• Floor-to-floor heights and floor area of ground-floor spaces.

All commercial floor space provided on the ground floor of a mixed-use building must contain the following minimum floor area for each building:

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty-five (25) percent of the lot area (whichever is greater) on lots with street frontage of less that fifty (50) feet.

ii.

At least eight hundred (800) square feet or twenty (20) percent of the lot area on lots with fifty (50) feet or more of street frontage.

Lot area per unit (density). The minimum lot area per unit shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet for mixed-use buildings and one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet for all other buildings.

• Setbacks. Front setbacks for all new construction (infill) shall be in harmony with the adjacent buildings and the DBOD district. No side or rear setbacks are required.

• Building height. The maximum heights of new construction (infill) shall be three (3) stories.

Signage.

• Wall signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot of linear building frontage per establishment.

• Free standing signs. Dimensions: One (1) square foot per linear foot of lot frontage up to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) square feet Placement: Five (5) feet from property line.

• Prohibited signs.

Off premise signs are prohibited.

Portable signs of any kind are prohibited except sandwich board signs.

Roof top signs are prohibited unless historic in nature.

Parking requirements.

• Parking ratio. No off-street parking is required for residential uses or non-residential uses.

• Loading bays. Any commercial use shall be within two hundred (200) feet of loading bay. Loading area shall be striped and paved in the field.

• Paving. All parking shall be paved.

Landscaping. All off street parking spaces shall be within sixty (60) feet of a large tree. Species must be approved by HPC if planting is located in the local historic district.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1507. - Subdivision of land.

Individual subdivision of buildings shall be permitted. All subdivision shall comply with the LDC and NC State building code regulations.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09)

Sec. 1508. - Site plan and re-zoning application.

Any approval of development will be based upon a site plan and submitted to the department of development services office for scheduling on the planning board's agenda.

(Ord. No. O-2009-10, § 2, 2-9-09; Ord. No. O-2018-78, § 2, 8-13-18)