Regional Center Secondary Zoning District.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 742-202
in effectSec. 742-202. - Regional Center Secondary Zoning District.
A. Applicability. With the exception of legally established nonconforming uses, no land, building, structure, premises or part thereof shall be used or occupied except in conformity with these regulations and for uses permitted by this section. In the case of any difference of regulations between this Section 742-202 and the regulations of the Primary Zoning District, the provisions of this section shall control. Except as modified by this Section 742-202, all development standards as required by the Primary Zoning District shall apply.
B. Commission approval required. All development of land and demolition of structures located within the Regional Center and the North Meridian Street Corridor District shall be subject to the Commission's approval as included within a required site and development plan approved as hereinafter provided. Provided, however:
1. The outdoor retail sales of beverages, flowers and food from carts on sidewalks and public areas shall be subject to the provisions of, and approved by the City Controller in accordance with, Chapter 961 of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County and shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 742-202.
2. All lots located within any locally designated historic preservation areas as established by, and under the jurisdiction of, the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC), shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 742-202.
C. Requirements for Commission approval.
1. Filing the site and development plan.
a. All alteration, construction, conversion, demolition, development, enlargement, improvement, and modification on any lot shall file a petition for approval of the proposed changes.
b. Upon the filing of such a petition, the Administrator of the Division of Planning of the Department of Metropolitan Development, on behalf of the Commission, shall consider and either approve, disprove, or approve subject to any conditions, amendments, commitments or covenants by the petitioner, or refer to the Regional Center Hearing Examiner, the proposed site and development plan.
c. Petitions for high impact projects shall be automatically referred to the Regional Center Hearing Examiner. Petitions for high impact projects shall be required to provide public and individual notice of such filing and referral by the Administrator in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Commission.
d. The action upon such a petition by the Administrator or Regional Center Hearing Examiner upon such approval request shall be subject to the filing of an appeal, within 10 calendar days, by any aggrieved person to the Commission. Such an appeal shall otherwise be in accordance with Article VII of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission.
e. The Commission may consider and act upon such appeal of the action of the Administrator or Regional Center Hearing Examiner at any public meeting of the Commission and shall either approve, disapprove, or approve the site and development plan subject to any conditions, amendments, commitments, or covenants by the petitioner in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Commission.
2. Standards and requirements for site and development plan, uses and structures.
a. The required site and development plan, drawn to scale and dimensioned, and building and structural plans, shall indicate, where applicable:
1. Existing uses, buildings and structures, noting those to remain and a description of materials and exterior colors;
2. Proposed buildings and structures, and the materials and exterior colors thereof;
3. Floor plans indicating floor area by activity types, vertical circulation, exits, service access;
4. Elevation drawings of proposed buildings and structures, and the color, materials, window glazing material reflectance and transmissivity thereof;
5. Off-street parking design and internal traffic pattern;
6. Vehicular entrances, exits, and turnoff lanes;
7. Rights-of-way, easements and building setbacks;
8. Landscaping plan showing names, sizes at planting, spacing, and quantity of materials;
9. Site improvements, such as site lighting, paving materials, furnishings, and the materials and colors thereof;
10. Screens, walls, fences, and the materials and colors thereof;
11. Signs, and the location, size, elevation, color, materials, and design thereof;
12. Utilities, if aboveground facilities are needed;
13. Pedestrian ways below, at, or above grade level;
14. Information related to the development's environmental impact (such as application for LEED certification, paving permeability, and other sustainable techniques) and shadow casting;
15. For high impact projects, a written statement of design intent; and
16. Documentation demonstrating compliance with all other requirements of this Section 742-202.
b. Details of such a development, including signage, building facade treatment, street furnishings and landscaping within the right-of-way, landscape treatment on the site, development intensity and massing of structure shall be so designed to:
1. Be in conformity with the Regional Center Plan and the Regional Center Design Guidelines, adopted by the Commission's Resolution 2008-CPS-R-003, June 18, 2008; and any subsequently adopted plan;
2. Create a superior land development plan, in conformity with the Comprehensive Plan;
3. Create and maintain a desirable, efficient and economical use of land with high functional and aesthetic value, attractiveness and compatibility of land uses, within the Regional Center, the North Meridian Corridor, applicable Zoning District and within adjacent uses;
4. Provide adequate access, parking and loading areas;
5. Provide adequate on-site vehicular circulation integrated with traffic control and existing and planned public streets in the vicinity;
6. Provide adequately for sanitation, drainage and public utilities;
7. Allocate adequate sites for all uses proposed - the design, character, grade, location, and orientation thereof to be appropriate for the uses proposed, logically related to existing and proposed topographical and other conditions;
8. Create and maintain clear sight lines which enhance the views of parks and landmarks in the Regional Center and North Meridian Street Corridor for pedestrians and motorists;
9. Create and enhance defensible, safe spaces and discourage crime through appropriate design, passive, natural surveillance and activated pedestrian areas;
10. Provide for accessibility and mass transit opportunities; and
11. Be compatible in construction material, scale, color and pattern with the existing environment.
D. Prohibited uses. The following uses shall not be permitted within the Regional Center or within the North Meridian Street Corridor. All of the following uses lawfully in existence on January 31, 1983 shall be permitted to remain.
1. Adult entertainment businesses or uses;
2. Automobile fueling stations on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Market Street, Pennsylvania Street, Washington Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square;
3. Billiard parlor, or roller or ice skating rink on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street;
4. Facilities with a drive-in, drive-through, drive-up, or customer service window on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, Washington Street, Market Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square;
5. Night club, private club, or lounge on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street within the North Meridian Street Corridor;
6. Outdoor storage of equipment or materials that is not associated with any sidewalk cafe, outdoor dining, or food or flower cart;
7. Outside display of merchandise that is not associated with any sidewalk cafe, outdoor dining, or food or flower cart on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, Washington Street, Market Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square;
8. Liquor stores and check cashing or validation services, except as a part of an integrated commercial center that exceeds a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet;
9. Pawnshops or loan shops;
10. Surface parking lot on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, Washington Street, Market Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square;
11. Vehicle sales (new or used) or vehicle service or repair on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, Washington Street, Market Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square. And further, used vehicle sales are prohibited except as an accessory use to new automobile sales; and
12. Vehicle wash (any type, such as, completely indoors wash, self-service wash, automatic or semi-automatic wash) on any lot with frontage on Meridian Street, Washington Street, Market Street, or on any lot located within the Mile Square.
E. Additional development standards. All development standards as required by the Primary Zoning District shall be applicable in the Regional Center and the North Meridian Street Corridor except as modified by this Section 742-202.E.
1. Required front yard, setback.
a. Buildings and structures shall be located in accordance with the Commission's approval.
b. Vehicle areas shall be located with a minimum setback of eight feet and the maximum setback shall be the established front setback line.
2. Use of required yards. Off-street parking shall not be permitted in any front yard required by ordinance.
3. Landscaping within the right-of-way. At least one overstory tree with associated grating or protection system shall be provided and maintained in the right-of-way for each 40 feet of linear frontage along the following streets within the Mile Square:
a. Capitol Avenue;
b. Illinois Street;
c. Meridian Street;
d. Pennsylvania Street;
e. Delaware Street;
f. Ohio Street;
g. Market Street;
h. Washington Street;
i. Maryland Street;
j. Georgia Street.
4. Drive-in, drive-up, drive-through and customer service unit facilities. No customer service Unit shall be located on a façade that is adjacent to or faces a public right-of-way that exceeds 30 feet in width. No off-street stacking space shall be located in a front yard that is along a public right-of-way that exceeds 30 feet in width. In all instances, customer service units shall be screened from all public rights-of-way that exceed 30 feet in width regardless of proximity.
5. Alley. An alley may be used for maneuvering for parking of automobiles.
6. Exteriors. Building exteriors, awnings, porches, signs, landscaping, hardware and windows shall be properly maintained, kept clean, painted and in good repair.
7. Signs.
a. Business signs: Business signs shall comply with the sign regulations of Chapter 744, Article IX and the following:
1. Building identification signs and freestanding identification signs within the North Meridian Street Corridor shall be limited to wall signs, ground signs, awning signs, marquee signs, suspended signs, pylon signs and projecting signs. Signs shall be further limited by the following:
i. Pylon signs shall not exceed 36 square feet per sign face and shall not exceed 14 feet in height.
ii. Ground signs shall not exceed 36 square feet per sign face and may be up to six feet in height.
iii. Projecting signs shall not exceed 18 square feet per sign face.
2. Building identification signs and freestanding identification signs within the Regional Center but not within the North Meridian Street Corridor shall be limited to wall signs, pylon signs, awning signs, marquee signs, suspended signs, and projecting signs. Signs shall be further limited by the following:
i. Pylon signs shall not exceed 36 square feet per sign face and shall not exceed eight feet in height.
ii. Projecting signs shall not exceed 36 square feet per sign face.
3. Building identification signs and freestanding identification signs within the Mile Square shall be limited to wall signs, awning signs, marquee signs, suspended signs, and projecting signs. Signs shall be further limited by the following:
i. Projecting signs shall not exceed 54 square feet per sign face.
ii. Projecting signs, awning signs, and marquee signs along Meridian Street and Market Street shall not project more than three feet into the right-of-way.
b. Advertising signs (also known as billboards or off-premise signs): Advertising signs shall not be permitted.
(G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH742DI_ARTIISEDI_S742-202RECESEZODIFetched: 10/27/2026