C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District Allowed and Prohibited Uses
The C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District in Arlington County is designed to foster high-density, mixed-use development, specifically encouraging high-rise office, retail, hotel, and multiple-family residential uses within the Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District. While many small-scale retail and professional services are permitted by-right, high-impact developments such as multiple-family dwellings and hotels require site plan approval to ensure they contribute to the county's vision for a high-quality public realm and distinctive skyline [§7.15.1, §7.15.5].
District Purpose and Intent
The primary intent of the C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District is to implement the vision of the Rosslyn Sector Plan. This includes creating a diverse mix of workplaces and housing, establishing a walkable network of public parks and tree-lined streets, and ensuring sensitive transitions to surrounding Arlington County neighborhoods. The C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District employs a "peaks and valleys" approach to building heights to preserve priority view corridors while allowing for intensive urban development [§7.15.1].
Allowed Principal Uses
In the C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District, uses are classified as permitted by-right (P), requiring a use permit (U), requiring site plan approval (S), or requiring both a use permit and site plan approval (C) [§7.1.2].
Residential and Group Living Uses
Residential development in the C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District focuses on high-density multiple-family living, though some other forms are permitted.
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached | Permitted by-right (P) | |
| Multiple-family | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Independent living facilities | Site Plan Approval (S) | §12.3.12 |
| Recovery residence | By-right (P) or Use Permit (U) | §12.3.9 |
| Assisted living facilities | Site Plan Approval (S) | §12.3.12 |
| Continuing care retirement communities | Site Plan Approval (S) | §12.3.12 |
| Nursing homes | Site Plan Approval (S) | §12.3.12 |
Public, Civic, and Institutional Uses
The C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District allows for a variety of community-oriented facilities, most of which require special exceptions to ensure compatibility with the high-density environment.
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | Permitted by-right (P) | |
| Fire and police stations | Permitted by-right (P) | |
| Colleges and universities | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) | |
| Community centers / Libraries / Museums | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) | |
| Recreation centers / Community swimming pools | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) | §12.4.6, §12.4.8 |
| Child care centers / All other day care | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) | §12.4.1 |
| Hospitals | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) | §12.4.2 |
| Parks, playgrounds, and playfields | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) |
Retail, Service, and Commercial Uses
The Mixed Use Rosslyn District supports a robust commercial environment. Retail and office uses are the backbone of the district's ground-floor activity.
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan beverage | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.5.31 |
| Shared commercial kitchen | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.5.34 |
| Offices (all types: federal, state, medical, etc.) | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.5.16 |
| Financial services / Branch banks | Permitted by-right (P) | |
| Retail sales (Bakeries, Drug stores, Grocery, etc.) | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.5.21 |
| Newsstands / Florist or gift shops | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.5.21 |
| Restaurants | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Hotels or motels | Site Plan Approval (S) | §12.5.11 |
| Indoor recreation uses | Permitted by-right (P) | |
| Pawnshops | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Vehicle sales, rental, or leasing facilities | Use Permit & Site Plan (C) | §12.5.29 |
Prohibited Uses
Any use not explicitly listed with a "P", "U", "S", or "C" in the Arlington County C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District use table is considered prohibited [§7.1.2.E]. Specific prohibited uses include:
- Residential: Duplexes, semidetached dwellings, townhouses, and boarding houses [§7.1.2].
- Governmental: Detention or correctional facilities [§7.1.2].
- Commercial: All other commercial parking (not publicly owned), car washes, and vehicle body shops [§7.1.2].
- Industrial: All heavy industrial uses, manufacturing (except artisan), and most warehouse or freight movement uses [§7.1.2].
Accessory Uses
Accessory uses in the C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the principal use on the lot [§12.9.1].
| Accessory Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Family day care homes | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.9.9 |
| Home occupations | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.9.11 |
| Homestay, accessory | Permitted by-right (P) | §12.9.12 |
| Outdoor cafes (Private property) | By-right (P) or Use Permit (U) | §12.9.15 |
| Live entertainment and/or dancing | Use Permit (U) | §12.9.13 |
| Small cell or micro-wireless facilities | Permitted by-right (P) |
Development and Parking Standards
Development in the C-O Rosslyn: Mixed Use Rosslyn District is governed by strict parking and density requirements to support its high-density nature.
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Residential Parking | 1 off-street space per dwelling unit [§7.15.5.A.1(a)] |
| Hotel Parking | 0.7 off-street space per guest room and dwelling unit [§7.15.5.A.1(b)] |
| Office/Retail Parking | 1 space per 530 to 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area [§7.15.5.A.1(c)] |
| Max Density (F.A.R.) | Up to 10.0 F.A.R. via Site Plan (with specific findings) [§7.15.4.A.1] |
Sections Cited
- Article 7. Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts
- Section 7.1.2. Commercial/mixed use (C) districts principal use table
- Section 7.1.3. Commercial/mixed use (C) districts accessory use table
- Section 7.15. C-O Rosslyn, Mixed Use Rosslyn District
- Section 12.2. Use Categories
- Section 12.3. Residential Use Standards
- Section 12.4. Public and Civic Use Standards
- Section 12.5. Commercial/Mixed Use Standards
- Section 12.9. Accessory Use Standards
- Section 15.4. Use Permits
- Section 15.5. Site Plans