Highway Commercial (HC) Land Use and Development Guide for the City of Arlington

The HC: Highway Commercial district in the City of Arlington is designed to accommodate high-intensity commercial activities, including automobile sales, hotels, and drive-through restaurants, primarily along major regional thoroughfares and freeways. While most retail and professional services are permitted by right, certain uses like self-storage, used motor vehicle sales, and small box discount stores require a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to ensure compatibility with the surrounding City of Arlington environment.

Purpose of the HC: Highway Commercial District

In the City of Arlington, the HC district is intended for commercial uses that require high visibility and generate high volumes of vehicle traffic, including heavy trucks. The Unified Development Code discourages "strip development" in this district, requiring instead that developments provide an attractive appearance through professional landscaping and well-designed parking facilities [Section 2.3.7.A].

Technical Development Standards

All developments within the HC: Highway Commercial designation in the City of Arlington must adhere to specific dimensional requirements to maintain the character of the city’s major corridors.

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Lot Area	10,000 square feet
Maximum Density	36 dwelling units per acre (for multi-family/mixed-use)
Front Setback (Freeway/Frontage Road)	20 feet
Front Setback (All other streets)	20 feet
Side Setback	20 feet
Rear Setback	10 feet
Setback Adjacent to Single-Family	25 feet
Maximum Building Height	N/A (determined by Article 4)
Maximum Lot Coverage	N/A (determined by Article 4)

Source: [Section 2.3.7]

Allowed and Conditional Uses

The City of Arlington Unified Development Code categorizes uses as Permitted by Right (P), Permitted subject to Supplemental Standards (P*), requiring a Specific Use Permit (S), or requiring a Specific Use Permit subject to Supplemental Standards (S*).

Residential and Group Living Uses

The HC: Highway Commercial district allows for higher-density residential options, often integrated into commercial environments.

Dwelling, Multi-family: Permitted subject to standards [Table 3.1-2].
Nursing Home: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Halfway House: Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].

Public, Institutional, and Educational Uses

Art Gallery or Museum: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Government Administration and Civic Buildings: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Philanthropic Institution: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Religious Assembly: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Schools (Business, Trade, University, Public/Private): Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Hospital: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Medical or Dental Office or Clinic: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Community Garden / Public Park: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].

Commercial: Auto Sales and Services

The City of Arlington places specific restrictions on automotive uses within the HC district to prevent blight and ensure safety.

Motor Vehicle Fueling Facility: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Motor Vehicle Rental: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Motor Vehicle Sales, New: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Auto Service Center: Requires an SUP and must comply with supplemental standards, including prohibitions on spray painting and outside storage [Section 3.2.3.B.1].
Car Wash: Requires an SUP and supplemental screening of wash/vacuum bays [Section 3.2.3.B.3].
Motor Vehicle Sales, Used: Requires an SUP and is strictly prohibited in the Interstate 20 corridor (between Cooper Street and State Highway 360) [Section 3.2.3.B.5].

Commercial: Retail, Food, and Beverage

General Retail Store: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Restaurant (Standard, Take-out, or Drive-through): Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Bar: Permitted subject to supplemental standards regarding distance from residential districts [Section 3.2.3.D.1].
Package Liquor Store: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Firearm Sales: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Small Box Discount Store: Requires an SUP and must be located at least 1.5 miles from any other such store [Section 3.2.3.I.7].
Tobacco or E-cigarette Retail Store: Permitted subject to 1,500-foot separation from protected uses like schools or parks [Section 3.2.3.I.8].

Commercial: Lodging and Office

Hotel (Luxury, Upper Upscale, Convention): Permitted subject to standards [Table 3.1-2].
Hotel (Upscale): Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].
Hotel (Midscale, Economy, Upper Midscale): Rebuilding allowed for conforming/nonconforming facilities [Table 3.1-2].
Office, Business or Professional: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].

Industrial and Utility Uses

Distribution Center or Warehouse: Permitted [Table 3.1-2].
Self-storage Facility: Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].
Custom and Craft Work: Permitted subject to standards [Table 3.1-2].
Gas Well: Requires a Specific Use Permit and supplemental standards [Section 3.2.4.B.2].

Prohibited Uses

Any use not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional in the City of Arlington's use tables is prohibited in the HC: Highway Commercial district. Specific prohibited uses include:

Animal Production: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Correctional Facility: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Emergency Shelter: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Mortuary, Crematory, or Funeral Chapel: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Asphalt or Concrete Batch Plant: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
High-Impact Use: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Heavy Manufacturing: Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Salvage Yard (Indoor or Outdoor): Prohibited [Table 3.1-2].
Overnight Truck Parking Lot: Prohibited in all zoning districts [Section 3.2.4.C.1].
Used Motor Vehicle Sales in the I-20 Corridor: Explicitly prohibited within the area bounded by Cooper Street, Arbrook Boulevard, SH 360, and Bardin Road [Section 3.2.3.B.5].

Sections Cited

Section 2.3.7 Highway Commercial | HC
Table 3.1-2 Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
Section 3.2.3 Commercial Uses
Section 3.2.4 Industrial Uses
Article 4 Dimensional Standards
Section 5.12 Standards for Multi-Family Residential Dwellings in Non-Residential Zoning Districts