Off-Street Parking Standards for the Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU) District in Arlington, Texas
In the City of Arlington’s NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district, residential components require one parking space per dwelling unit plus additional allocations for visitor and staff parking. Commercial projects within the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district must calculate their total parking requirement by summing the individual requirements for each specific use on the site. Furthermore, the City of Arlington prohibits the placement of surface parking lots or driving aisles between the building and the street within this district [Section 5.4.4.H.1].
General Parking Ratios for the Neighborhood Mixed-Use District
The City of Arlington utilizes Parking Schedule A to determine the minimum number of off-street spaces required for various land uses. Because the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district is classified as a non-residential and mixed-use base district, residential projects developed here follow specific mixed-use ratios [Table 5.4-1].
Residential Parking Requirements
For multi-family or mixed-use residential projects located within the City of Arlington’s NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district, the following ratios apply:
| Use Component | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Primary Residential Use | 1 parking space per dwelling unit |
| Accessory Staff Parking | 5 parking spaces (Fixed) |
| Visitor Parking | 1 space per 10,000 square feet of gross residential floor area |
Commercial and Non-Residential Ratios
Commercial requirements in the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district are based on the specific type of activity. Common commercial ratios for the City of Arlington include:
| Commercial Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Office (General) | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Retail (General) | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (includes outdoor dining/drinking areas) |
| Medical/Dental Clinic | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Bank/Financial Institution | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Special District Regulations and Layout
The City of Arlington imposes specific design and administrative rules for parking facilities within the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment [Section 5.13.1].
Parking Location and Design
Within the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district, surface parking lots, individual off-street spaces, and their associated driving aisles are strictly prohibited from being located between the building and the street. However, the City of Arlington Zoning Administrator may approve a designated off-street area specifically for passenger drop-off or pick-up activities [Section 5.4.4.H.1.c].
Administrative Reductions
The total number of required parking spaces in the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district may be reduced by the Zoning Administrator. To qualify for this reduction, the applicant must prepare and submit a parking evaluation demonstrating that a reduction is appropriate based on factors such as the expected parking needs of the specific development and the availability of mass transit [Section 5.4.4.H.1.b].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington requires bicycle parking for all developments within the NMU: Neighborhood Mixed-Use district. These facilities must be located in a covered and secured area for residential components [Section 5.4.11.C].
| Use Category | Bicycle Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Multi-family and Mixed-use | 1 bicycle space per 5 residential units |
| Non-residential Developments | 5% of the number of required automobile parking spaces |
| E-Bike Requirement | 10% of the required bicycle parking must include e-bike chargers |
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.12, Neighborhood Mixed-Use | NMU
- Section 5.4.3, Off-Street Parking Standards
- Section 5.4.4, Computation of Parking and Loading Requirements
- Section 5.4.11, Bicycle Parking
- Section 5.13.1, Purpose (Mixed-Use Standards)
- Table 5.4-1, Off-Street Parking Schedule A