18.2.F Purpose of the RDO-2 Residential Diversity Overlay District (Tremé/Sixth and Seventh Wards)

The purpose of the RDO-2 Residential Diversity Overlay District is to allow a limited number of commercial activities and higher density residential uses in existing buildings across multi-block areas of residentially zoned areas. The RDO-2 Overlay District is intended to sustain the historic character of residential neighborhoods that contained a few small commercial uses serving the immediate neighborhood and a few small multi-unit residential buildings situated among low density residential uses. The RDO-2 Overlay District encourages the compatible reuse of existing non-residential and mixed-use structures in residential areas, in order to reduce commercial and residential nonconformities and to prevent the use of spot zones to authorize commercial or higher density residential uses. The RDO-2 Overlay District differs from the RDO-1 Overlay District by allowing for the establishment of standard restaurants without the sale or service of alcoholic beverages.