Authorized Land Uses for the C-O Crystal City: Mixed Use Crystal City District
The C-O Crystal City: Mixed Use Crystal City district in Arlington County is a high-density zoning designation primarily intended to encourage the redevelopment of neighborhood centers with a mix of office, residential, retail, and hotel uses. While single-family homes and professional offices are permitted by-right, most large-scale developments, including multi-family housing and retail stores, require site plan approval to ensure consistency with the Crystal City Sector Plan. The district expressly prohibits medium-density residential forms such as duplexes, semidetached homes, and townhouses.
Allowed Uses in the C-O Crystal City District
In Arlington County, uses within the C-O Crystal City district are categorized by their permission levels: Permitted By-Right (P), Site Plan Approval Required (S), Use Permit Approval Required (U), or a combination of Use Permit and Site Plan Approval Required (C). A blank cell in the official use tables indicates that a use is prohibited [§7.1.2.E].
Residential Uses
| Specific Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| One-family detached | P |
| Multiple-family | S |
| Recovery residence | P or U |
| Assisted living facilities | S |
| Continuing care retirement communities | S |
| Nursing homes | S |
| Dormitories | U |
| Fraternity and sorority houses | U |
| Group homes | U |
Public, Civic, and Institutional Uses
| Specific Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | U |
| Community centers | U |
| Libraries | U |
| Museums and art galleries or studios | U |
| Recreation centers | U |
| Day care (Child care and all other) | U |
| Fire and police stations | P |
| Hospitals | U |
| Cemeteries / Country clubs and golf courses | U |
| Parks, playgrounds, and playfields | U |
| Airports and aircraft landing fields | U |
| Passenger terminals (Bus, trolley, air, boat, rail) | U |
| Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | P |
| Schools (Elementary, middle, and high) | U |
| Social service institutions (except corrective) | U |
Retail, Service, and Commercial Uses
| Specific Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Artisan beverage | P |
| Shared commercial kitchens | P |
| Shared commercial kitchens (Limited or Open-air) | U |
| Restaurants / Food catering (Small-scale) | S |
| Movie or other theaters | S |
| Membership clubs and lodges | U |
| Offices (Professional, medical, dental, or government) | P |
| Urban agriculture / Urban colleges and universities | P |
| Hotels or motels / Bed and breakfasts | S |
| Commercial parking (Publicly-owned) | U |
| Swimming pool (Commercial) | S |
| Indoor recreation (All other) | P |
| Outdoor recreation (Miniature golf, skating, tennis, etc.) | U |
| Retail sales (Bakeries, drug stores, florists, groceries, etc.) | S |
| Kiosks | U |
| Micro-fulfillment center | S |
| Large-format retail | U |
| Open-air markets | U |
| Animal boarding | P |
| Artisan workshop | P |
| Mortuaries and funeral homes | C |
Industrial and Other Uses
| Specific Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Vehicle sales, rental, or leasing facilities | C |
| Solid waste transfer / Recycling centers | U |
| Agriculture (All agricultural uses) | P |
| Telecommunications facilities | P or U |
| Small cell or micro-wireless facilities | P |
Prohibited Uses
The following uses are not permitted within the C-O Crystal City district in Arlington County as indicated by blank cells in the district use tables [§7.1.2]:
- Residential: Duplexes, semidetached dwellings, townhouses, and boarding or rooming houses.
- Institutional: Detention or correctional facilities.
- Commercial/Retail: Animal shelters, kennels, and pawnshops.
- Automotive: Car washes, vehicle body shops, and vehicle service establishments.
- Industrial: All heavy industrial uses, manufacturing and production (foundries, etc.), and wholesale merchandising brokers.
Density and Dimensional Standards
Development in the C-O Crystal City district must adhere to specific intensity and placement requirements. While by-right standards are relatively restrictive, the special exception site plan process allows for significantly greater density and height to meet the goals of the Arlington County Comprehensive Plan.
| Standard Type | By-Right Requirement | Special Exception (Site Plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Lot Area, minimum | 20,000 sq. ft. | Per approved Site Plan |
| Lot Width, minimum | 100 feet | Per approved Site Plan |
| Building Height, maximum | 35 feet | Per Building Heights Map [§7.16.8] |
| Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 0.60 | Per Base Density Map [§7.16.6] |
Parking Requirements for Site Plan Developments
When the Arlington County Board approves a site plan for the C-O Crystal City district, the following parking ratios generally apply unless otherwise modified [§7.16.5.H]:
- Multi-family Residential: 1.125 spaces per unit for the first 200 units; 1 space per unit for all units above 200.
- Commercial (Office/Retail): 1 space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.
- Hotel: 0.5 parking space per guest room.
- Additional Requirement: All parking must be located below grade or within a structure. Above-grade parking along public arterial streets must be lined with active programmed space or enhanced architectural facades.
Sections Cited
- §7.1. Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Use Tables
- §7.16. C-O Crystal City, Mixed Use Crystal City District
- §12.2. Use Categories
- §12.3. Residential Use Standards
- §12.4. Public and Civic Use Standards
- §12.5. Commercial/Mixed Use Standards
- §13.7. Signs in C and M Districts
- §14.3. Parking and Loading
- §15.4. Use Permits
- §15.5. Site Plans