Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-O Crystal City Mixed Use District
In Arlington County's C-O Crystal City district, multi-family residential projects require 1.125 spaces for each of the first 200 units and 1 space per unit thereafter, while commercial office and retail uses must provide 1 space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. All parking in the C-O Crystal City district must generally be located below grade or within the building structure, with specific architectural screening or "active lining" requirements for any above-grade components. These standards are intended to support a high-quality public realm and enhanced multimodal connectivity as envisioned in the Crystal City Sector Plan [§7.16.1, §7.16.5.H].
Off-Street Parking Ratios
For projects within the C-O Crystal City district, Arlington County mandates specific parking ratios based on the use type. These requirements apply unless otherwise modified by the County Board through the site plan approval process [§7.16.5.H].
| Use Type | Required Off-Street Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Multi-family Residential | 1.125 (1 1/8) spaces per unit for the first 200 units; 1.0 space per unit for all units exceeding 200 |
| Commercial (Office and Retail) | 1.0 space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
| Hotel | 0.5 (1/2) space per guest room |
Design and Location Requirements
Arlington County enforces strict design and placement standards for parking facilities within the C-O Crystal City district to minimize the visual impact of automobiles on the urban environment.
Below-Grade and Internal Placement
All parking associated with a development in the C-O Crystal City district must be located below grade or within the structure housing the primary use. Parking serves as an appurtenant feature to the main building [§7.16.5.H.4].
Above-Grade Parking Treatments
Where parking occurs in an above-grade structure, Arlington County requires different treatments based on the structure's orientation to the street network:
- Arterials and Open Spaces: If above-grade parking is located along public open spaces or public arterial streets (as identified in the Arlington County Master Transportation Plan), the parking must be lined with "active programmed space" to ensure street-level vibrancy [§7.16.5.H.4].
- Other Streets and Alleys: When parking is located along non-arterial public streets or alleys, the structure must be treated with enhanced architectural facades to maintain the aesthetic integrity of the C-O Crystal City district [§7.16.5.H.4].
Loading Spaces
The specific quantity and location of loading spaces for any permitted use in the C-O Crystal City district are not fixed by a universal ratio but are instead determined by the County Board during the Site Plan approval process [§7.16.5.H.5].
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
To justify the parking requirements established for the C-O Crystal City district, developers must submit Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans. These plans, required by Administrative Regulation 4.1, must demonstrate a clear reduction in vehicular trips and a corresponding increase in the use of alternative transportation options to reduce the overall need for on-site parking [§7.16.5.I].
Sections Cited
- Section 7.16: C-O Crystal City, Mixed Use Crystal City District
- Section 7.16.1: Purpose (C-O Crystal City)
- Section 7.16.5.H: Parking (C-O Crystal City Site Plans)
- Section 7.16.5.I: Transportation demand management plans