Arlington Off-Street Parking Standards for the HC: Highway Commercial District
In the City of Arlington HC: Highway Commercial district, multi-family residential projects must provide one parking space per dwelling unit plus additional staff and visitor parking, while commercial ratios vary by use, such as 10 spaces per 1,000 square feet for restaurants and 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet for offices. All off-street parking facilities within the HC: Highway Commercial district are generally required to be located to the side or rear of the buildings they serve to ensure a pedestrian-friendly streetscape.
Residential Parking Requirements in the HC District
The City of Arlington allows multi-family and mixed-use residential developments within the HC: Highway Commercial district subject to specific supplemental standards [Table 3.1-2]. When these residential uses are established in a non-residential zoning district like HC, the following parking ratios apply:
| Use Type | Primary Parking Requirement | Accessory/Visitor Parking |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Family or Mixed-Use Dwellings | 1 parking space per dwelling unit | 5 spaces (Office Staff) + 1 space per 10,000 sq. ft. of gross residential floor area (Visitor Parking) |
| Live/Work Dwelling | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit | Work area calculated based on specific retail, office, or commercial use |
[Table 5.4-1]
Commercial Parking Requirements in the HC District
The HC: Highway Commercial district is intended for high-traffic uses including hotels, restaurants, and automobile services [Section 2.3.7]. Parking requirements for these commercial uses are calculated based on Gross Floor Area (GFA) or specific units such as guest rooms or lanes.
General Commercial Ratios
| Commercial Use Type | Required Number of Off-Street Spaces |
|---|---|
| Office (All uses) | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (includes outside dining/drinking areas) |
| Restaurant with Drive-Through | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA + stacking spaces |
| Hotel (All types) | 1 per guest room/unit for first 100 units; 0.75 per unit thereafter |
| Auto Service Center | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Auto Repair Garage, Major | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| General Retail Store | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Bank or Financial Institution | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Motor Vehicle Rental | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
[Table 5.4-1]
Industrial and Warehouse Ratios (Schedule B)
Uses such as warehousing or distribution centers, which are permitted in the Arlington HC: Highway Commercial district, utilize "Schedule B" for parking calculations based on the size of the indoor storage or assembly area.
| Indoor Area Size (Storage/Assembly) | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| 1 - 3,000 square feet | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| 3,001 - 5,000 square feet | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| 5,001 - 10,000 square feet | 1.25 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| 10,001 square feet or more | 0.8 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
[Table 5.4-2]
Design, Location, and Layout Standards
The City of Arlington imposes strict location and design standards for parking lots in the HC: Highway Commercial district to minimize the visual impact of large paved areas [Section 5.4.1].
- Parking Location: Buildings in the HC: Highway Commercial district should be situated at the street frontage. Parking must be located to the side and rear of buildings to avoid being viewed from public rights-of-way [Section 5.4.9.C.1].
- Sub-area Division: Large surface parking areas must be divided into smaller sub-areas, each accommodating no more than 250 vehicles. These sub-areas must be separated by a minimum 15-foot wide landscaped feature that includes pedestrian walkways and shade [Section 5.4.9.C.2].
- Surfacing: All permanent parking areas and driveways in the HC: Highway Commercial district must have an all-weather surface constructed of asphalt or concrete [Section 5.4.9.H].
- Lighting: Any parking lot lighting fixture located within 100 feet of a residential property cannot exceed 20 feet in height [Section 5.4.9.F.3].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
Residential and commercial projects in the HC: Highway Commercial district must also provide off-street bicycle parking [Section 5.4.11].
| Land Use Type | Required Bicycle Spaces |
|---|---|
| Multi-family/Mixed-Use | 20% of the total number of units |
| Hotel (All types) | 1 per 30 rooms |
| Commercial/Retail (off-street) | 5% of all automobile spaces (min. 2 spaces) |
| Office, business or professional | 5% of all automobile spaces (min. 2 spaces) |
[Table 5.4-4]
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.7, Highway Commercial | HC
- Table 3.1-2, Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
- Section 5.4.1, Purpose (Off-Street Parking and Loading)
- Section 5.4.3, Off-Street Parking Standards
- Table 5.4-1, Off-Street Parking Schedule A
- Table 5.4-2, Off-Street Parking Schedule B
- Section 5.4.9, Parking Facility Location and Design
- Section 5.4.11, Bicycle Parking
- Table 5.4-4, Required Bicycle Parking