Off-Street Parking Requirements for the C-R: Commercial Redevelopment District in Arlington County
Projects within the Arlington County C-R district generally require one off-street parking space for every 580 square feet of gross floor area for non-residential uses and one space per dwelling unit for residential projects. Surface parking is strictly prohibited for most uses in the C-R district, with exceptions limited to convenience retail, service commercial, and townhouse developments, provided they meet specific screening and location criteria.
General Parking Ratios in the C-R District
In the C-R: Commercial Redevelopment District of Arlington County, off-street parking must be provided for all new developments or expansions. The primary ratios used to calculate required stalls are based on the type of use and the gross floor area (GFA) of the structure [Section 7.20.5.A].
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Non-Residential/Commercial | 1 space per 580 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Residential (All Types) | 1 space per dwelling unit |
| One- and Two-Family Dwellings (General) | 1 per dwelling unit (2 if fronting on a cul-de-sac) [Section 14.3.7] |
Design and Configuration Standards
Arlington County mandates specific design standards for parking facilities within the C-R district to ensure they are functional and do not detract from the urban environment.
Compact Car Allowance
The ratio of compact-sized automobile spaces to full-sized spaces is restricted. In the C-R district, compact spaces shall not exceed 15 percent of the total required parking for each individual unit or use [Section 7.20.5.A.1].
Surface Parking Restrictions
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance discourages surface parking in the C-R district to promote higher-density redevelopment.
- Prohibitions: Surface parking is generally not allowed for commercial or residential projects.
- Exceptions: Surface parking may be permitted for convenience retail or service commercial uses. Additionally, required parking for townhouse residential developments may be provided as surface parking [Section 7.20.5.A.2].
- Location Limitations: Surface parking for commercial uses is prohibited if it is located across the street from or directly abuts a "low" or "low-medium" residential designation as defined by the Arlington County General Land Use Plan [Section 7.20.5.A.2].
Screening Requirements
When surface parking is permitted in the C-R district, it must be screened from public view. The ordinance requires such areas to be screened from public plaza areas, public sidewalks, and abutting sites using a combination of landscaping and a four-foot masonry wall. This wall must be constructed of materials similar to the principal structure on the site [Section 7.20.5.A.2].
Parking Standards for Site Plan Projects
For projects in the C-R district approved via the special exception site plan process, the Arlington County Board may vary standard requirements. However, the following regulations typically apply unless specifically modified [Section 7.20.8]:
Preservation Credits
If a development project in the C-R district preserves a building or building facade designated as a "contributing building" in an adopted revitalization district, the developer may receive a parking credit. The total parking requirement for the project may be reduced by an area equal to the gross floor area of the building being preserved, applied across as many levels as the parking garage is constructed [Section 7.20.8.D.1].
Retail Parking Placement
In site plan projects, parking for retail uses must be provided on the first level of the parking garage. These spaces must be available for short-term parking during the hours the retail establishments are open to the public [Section 7.20.8.D.2].
Special Retail Streets
For buildings with frontage on "special retail streets" designated in a sector plan, surface parking may be provided in accordance with that specific sector plan's design standards. In these instances, the number of spaces required to be provided in an underground or structured garage is reduced by the number of surface spaces provided. Furthermore, this surface parking area may count toward the project's total open space requirement [Section 7.20.8.D.3].
Sections Cited
- Section 7.20.5 Site development standards (C-R district)
- Section 7.20.8 Site plans (C-R district)
- Section 14.3.7 Required parking and standing space (General)