Industrial Manufacturing (IM) District Guide - City of Arlington
The IM: Industrial Manufacturing district in the City of Arlington is primarily intended for heavy industrial and manufacturing activities, providing for the development of large-scale production, processing, and assembly facilities. While this district permits a vast array of commercial and industrial uses by-right, it strictly prohibits most forms of residential development and requires a 40-foot building height limit when located within 40 feet of a single-family residential property line [Section 2.3.11]. Certain high-impact or sensitive uses, such as asphalt plants and salvage yards, require a Specific Use Permit to ensure compatibility with the surrounding City of Arlington environment [Section 3.1.5].
General Purpose of the IM District
The City of Arlington established the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district to accommodate heavy industrial and manufacturing uses, as well as supporting business and office uses. Because of the intensity of these activities, the City of Arlington requires that the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district be located away from low- and medium-density residential developments to prevent adverse impacts on the quiet residential nature of those areas [Section 2.3.11.A].
Allowed Uses (Permitted By-Right)
The following uses are allowed by-right in the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district, provided they meet the standard requirements of the Arlington Unified Development Code.
Industrial and Wholesale Uses
- Manufacturing: Heavy Manufacturing, Light Manufacturing, and Small-Scale Manufacturing and Assembly [Section 3.1.5].
- Industrial Services: Building Maintenance Sales and Service (subject to supplemental standards), Cleaners (Commercial), Flex (Office or Commerce), Food Processing, and Wrecker Service [Section 3.1.5].
- Wholesale and Storage: Cold Storage Plant, Contractors Plant/Storage Yard, Distribution Center/Warehouse, and Wholesale Supply Business [Section 3.1.5].
- Salvage: Indoor Salvage Yards [Section 3.1.5].
Commercial and Service Uses
- Auto Sales and Repair: Auto Service Center, Major Auto Repair Garage, Car Wash, Motor Vehicle Fueling Facility, and Sales of New Motor Vehicles [Section 3.1.5].
- Retail Sales: Building and Landscaping Materials/Lumber Sales, Firearm Sales, Nursery/Garden Shop, Package Liquor Store, Pawn Shop, Second-Hand Goods Store, and Swimming Pool/Spa Sales [Section 3.1.5].
- Office and Professional: Business or Professional Office, Telemarketing Call Center, and Bail Bond Service [Section 3.1.5].
- Recreation and Entertainment: Indoor Recreation (other than listed), Skating Rink, and General Outdoor Recreation [Section 3.1.5].
Public and Institutional Uses
- Community Facilities: Art Gallery or Museum, Domestic Violence Shelter, Emergency Shelter, Government Administration and Civic Buildings, Philanthropic Institution, and Religious Assembly [Section 3.1.5].
- Education and Health: Trade School, University/College/Seminary, Hospital, and Medical or Dental Office/Clinic [Section 3.1.5].
Uses Requiring a Specific Use Permit (SUP)
The City of Arlington requires a Specific Use Permit for certain uses within the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district to evaluate their impact on the community and infrastructure.
| Use Type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| High-Impact Use | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
| Asphalt or Concrete Batch Plant | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
| Salvage Yard (Outdoor) | Specific Use Permit required; subject to screening [Section 3.2.4.B.3] |
| Airport or Landing Field / Heliport | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
| Electric Generating Plant | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
| Gas Well | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.2.4.B] |
| Correctional Facility | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
| Halfway House | Specific Use Permit required [Section 3.1.5] |
Prohibited Uses
To maintain the industrial integrity of the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district, the City of Arlington prohibits most residential uses and has established specific corridor-based bans for certain commercial activities.
- Residential: Single-family detached, duplexes, townhouses, and manufactured/mobile homes are generally prohibited [Section 3.1.5].
- Group Living: Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and boarding houses are prohibited [Section 3.1.5].
- Corridor Restrictions: Within the Interstate 20 corridor (bounded by Cooper St, Arbrook Blvd, Highway 360, and Bardin Rd), the following are prohibited in the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district:
- Used Motor Vehicle Sales [Section 3.2.3.B.5].
- Sexually Oriented Businesses [Section 3.2.3.J.b].
- Package Liquor Stores [Section 3.2.3.I.5].
Technical Development Standards
The City of Arlington mandates specific dimensional standards for any development within the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district to ensure safety and proper site organization.
Setbacks and Building Height
| Standard Type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Setback (Freeway/Frontage Road) | 20 feet [Section 2.3.11.D] |
| Front Setback (All other streets) | 10 feet [Section 2.3.11.D] |
| Interior Side/Rear Setback | 0 feet [Section 2.3.11.D] |
| Setback Adjacent to Single-Family | 40 feet [Section 2.3.11.D] |
| Max Height (Within 40ft of Residential) | 40 feet [Section 2.3.11.E] |
| Max Height (Other areas) | N/A (No Code Limit) [Section 2.3.11.E] |
Off-Street Parking Ratios
Parking in the IM: Industrial Manufacturing district is calculated based on the specific use type. Most industrial uses follow "Schedule B" or "Schedule C."
| Activity (Schedule B) | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Office or Administrative Area | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA [Section 5.4.3] |
| Indoor Storage/Warehouse (1–3,000 sq. ft.) | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA [Section 5.4.3] |
| Indoor Storage/Warehouse (Over 10,001 sq. ft.) | 0.8 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA [Section 5.4.3] |
| Manufacturing/Industrial | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA [Section 5.4.3] |
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.11: Industrial Manufacturing | IM
- Section 3.1.5: Tables of Allowed Uses
- Section 3.2.1: Household Living (Supplemental Standards)
- Section 3.2.3: Commercial Uses (Supplemental Standards)
- Section 3.2.4: Industrial Uses (Supplemental Standards)
- Section 5.4.3: Off-Street Parking Standards