Raleigh Eyes Downtown Development Rules

Raleigh, N.C. — City officials are considering interim rules to guide downtown development until a comprehensive plan is adopted next year.

The speed and and location of development in downtown Raleigh has led to buildings with no street-level retail to bring people downtown and keep them there. That is especially true on major streets like Fayetteville Street and in the areas near Moore and Nash squares, officials said.

Development also has created some unsightly parking garages, and officials said they would like better rules to improve their design, as well as the appearance of sidewalks and landscaping of public areas downtown.

"Downtown is developing so rapidly (that) we felt we couldn't wait until 2009 to put policies in place," Raleigh Planning Director Mitchell Silver said.

A public hearing on the guidelines is set for April 15, and Silver said the rules could be in place by late May or early June.