Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay (LCMUO) District Standards
The Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay (LCMUO) in the City of Arlington modifies base zoning by requiring a minimum building height of 20 feet, reducing non-residential parking requirements by 50 percent, and mandating 16-foot wide perimeter streetscapes. In any instance where the overlay regulations conflict with the underlying base zoning district, the specific standards of the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay take precedence [Section 2.1.5].
Overview of the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay
The City of Arlington established the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay to promote high-quality, high-density, mixed-use development in north Arlington. The district is intended to encourage pedestrian-oriented activities through a complementary mix of land uses and prescriptive physical design standards [Section 2.4.4]. All mixed-use developments within the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay must comply with specific Mixed-Use Design Standards and submit a Mixed-Use Development Plan for administrative approval [Section 3.2.3.K, Section 5.7.2].
Modified Dimensional Standards
While the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay generally defers to the underlying base district for density and lot dimensions, it imposes specific requirements for building height and site coverage to ensure an urban form [Section 2.4.4].
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Building Height | 20 feet |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 90% |
| Minimum Front Setback | 0 feet |
| Minimum Side or Rear Setback | 5 feet |
| Setback Adjacent to Single-Family | 20 feet (side and/or rear) |
Perimeter Streetscape Requirements
The Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay replaces standard perimeter landscape setbacks with a mandatory 16-foot streetscape for all developments except single-family detached residential uses [Section 5.2.2.B.1, Section 5.2.2.D].
- Streetscape Width: A minimum 18-foot streetscape is required from the back of the curb. If the right-of-way is insufficient, the additional area must be provided via a landscape easement [Section 5.2.2.D.2.a].
- Green Space Strip: The streetscape must include a minimum 4-foot wide green space strip for street trees and landscaping, which requires a vertical root barrier for trees at the back of the curb [Section 5.2.2.D.2.b].
- Sidewalks: A 10-foot wide sidewalk is mandatory within the streetscape [Section 5.2.2.D.2.d].
- Street Trees: Trees must be a minimum of 10 feet in height with a 3-inch caliper at the time of planting, spaced between 25 and 30 feet apart on center [Section 5.2.2.D.2.c].
Parking and Circulation Modifications
The City of Arlington applies significant reductions and location restrictions to off-street parking within the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay to support a pedestrian-friendly environment [Section 5.4.4.2].
Vehicle Parking Reductions
For non-residential or mixed-use developments within the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay, the required off-street parking is reduced to one-half (50%) of the amount required in other City of Arlington zoning districts [Section 5.4.4.2.b]. Additionally, developers may receive a one-for-one reduction in required off-street spaces for every on-street parking space located immediately in front of the lot [Section 5.4.4.2.c].
Parking Layout and Location
- Placement: All surface parking lots must be located behind and/or on the sides of buildings. No surface parking is permitted between the building and the street [Section 5.4.4.2.d].
- Frontage Limit: Side parking areas are strictly limited to 25 percent of the total width of the street frontage [Section 5.4.4.2.d].
- Access: All off-street parking must be accessed through alleys or private access easements along the rear or side property lines [Section 5.7.4.D.1].
Bicycle Parking Standards
Specific bicycle parking ratios apply to the Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay to encourage multi-modal transportation [Section 5.4.11.A].
| Use Type | Minimum Bicycle Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Non-Residential | 5% of required automobile parking spaces |
| Multi-Family/Mixed-Use | 1 space per 5 residential units |
| Charging Requirement | 10% of bicycle parking must include e-bike chargers |
Building Materials and Design
The Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay mandates high-quality materials and "360-Degree Architecture," meaning all sides of a building must display a similar level of quality and architectural detailing as the front elevation [Section 5.5.4.F.1].
- Exterior Walls: All exterior walls, including parking structures and garages, must be finished with 100 percent of approved materials, such as native stone, brick, or stucco [Section 5.8.6.C.2.a].
- Preferred Materials: A minimum of two distinct building materials must be used on all façades [Section 5.8.6.C.2.a.ii].
- Transparency: For mixed-use buildings, at least 40 percent of any ground-floor wall facing a public street or park must contain windows or doorways [Section 5.7.5.D.1].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.1.5 Relationship to Overlay Districts
- Section 2.4.4 Lamar Collins Mixed-Use Overlay | LCMUO
- Section 3.2.3.K Mixed-Use
- Section 5.2.2.B Perimeter Landscape Setback, Multi-Family and Non-Residential
- Section 5.2.2.D Perimeter Streetscape in the LCMUO district
- Section 5.4.4.2 DB, DNO, and LCMUO Districts (Parking)
- Section 5.4.11 Bicycle Parking
- Section 5.5.4.F Building Design (Multi-Family)
- Section 5.7 Mixed-Use Design Standards
- Section 5.8.6 Lamar Collins Mixed Use Overlay | LCMUO (Additional Design Standards)