The DB: Downtown Business District in Arlington, Texas
The DB: Downtown Business district is the civic and ceremonial heart of the City of Arlington, designed to support high-density, pedestrian-oriented, and transit-supportive development. Key standards for the DB: Downtown Business district include a maximum residential density of 36 units per acre and the provision of 0-foot minimum setbacks for both street frontages and interior lot lines to encourage a continuous "street wall" aesthetic [Section 2.3.8]. Furthermore, the City of Arlington allows for significant parking reductions in this district, with requirements reduced to one-third of the standard ratios found in other parts of the municipality [Section 5.4.4].
Purpose and General Character
The DB: Downtown Business district is established by the City of Arlington to provide a concentrated mix of downtown, civic, service, office, institutional, cultural, and residential uses within the central business district. The primary intent is to aid in the revitalization of the City of Arlington’s original downtown area while establishing a unique identity [Section 2.3.8].
Urban design standards within the DB: Downtown Business district are focused on:
- Protecting property values.
- Creating a vibrant, mixed-use environment.
- Ensuring the area is pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented.
- Making the development process predictable for the public and developers [Section 2.3.8].
Dimensional and Development Standards
The City of Arlington UDC specifies that development in the DB: Downtown Business district must adhere to specific intensity and placement regulations to maintain its urban character.
DB: Downtown Business Dimensional Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Max. Residential Density | 36 dwelling units per acre |
| Min. Lot Area | N/A |
| Min. Street Setback | 0 feet |
| Min. Interior Side/Rear Setback | 0 feet |
| Min. Setback Adjacent to Single-Family | 20 feet |
| Max. Building Height | N/A (refer to Article 4) |
| Max. Lot Coverage | N/A |
| Max. Wall Sign Coverage | 20% of total wall area |
[Section 2.3.8, Section 7.8.4]
Permitted Land Uses
The DB: Downtown Business district supports a broad spectrum of land uses. According to the City of Arlington's Table of Allowed Uses, these are classified as Permitted (P), permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*), or requiring a Specific Use Permit (S) [Section 3.1.2].
Residential and Group Living
- Permitted By-Right: Duplexes.
- Permitted with Supplemental Standards: Live/work dwellings and multi-family dwellings [Table 3.1-2].
- Requires Specific Use Permit: Townhouses [Table 3.1-2].
- Independent Senior Living: Permitted with supplemental standards [Section 3.2.1].
Public, Institutional, and Civic
- Permitted By-Right: Art galleries, museums, government administrative and civic buildings, philanthropic institutions, and religious assemblies [Table 3.1-2].
- Educational: Business schools, universities, colleges, and seminaries are permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
Commercial and Service Uses
- Office: Business and professional offices are permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
- Retail and Dining: General retail, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes are permitted.
- Bars: Permitted, provided that no entrance or exit (except emergencies) is located within 500 feet of a residential district [Section 3.2.3.D].
- Lodging: Luxury, upscale, and convention hotels are permitted with supplemental standards [Table 3.1-2].
- Prohibited Uses: Alternative Financial Institutions (e.g., payday lenders) and pawn shops are not permitted in the DB: Downtown Business district [Table 3.1-2].
Special District Regulations
Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington provides a massive incentive for development in the DB: Downtown Business district by reducing off-street parking requirements. For non-residential or mixed-use developments, the required parking is reduced to one-third of the amount required in other City of Arlington zoning districts [Section 5.4.4.H]. Additionally, surface parking lots in the DB: Downtown Business district must be located behind or to the sides of buildings [Section 5.4.4.H.2.d].
Signage and Aesthetics
Signage in the DB: Downtown Business district is regulated to prevent visual clutter.
- Cabinet Signs: These are specifically prohibited within the DB: Downtown Business district [Section 7.8.4.K.2].
- Awning Signs: Awnings may be used as the primary business sign in this district, but they may not exceed a maximum area of 20 square feet [Section 7.8.9.J].
- Wall Murals: Murals are permitted on non-residential structures within the DB: Downtown Business district subject to specific environmental and content conditions [Section 7.8.17].
Mixed-Use Design
Any mixed-use development within the DB: Downtown Business district must comply with Section 5.7 of the City of Arlington UDC, which mandates that at least 60 percent of a building's street frontage be located at the minimum front setback line (the "build-to-line") to reinforce the urban street wall [Section 5.7.4].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.1.2, Zoning Districts Established
- Section 2.3.8, Downtown Business | DB
- Section 3.1.2, Explanation of Table Abbreviations
- Section 3.1.5, Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 3.2.1, Residential Uses
- Section 3.2.3, Commercial Uses
- Section 5.4.4, Computation of Parking and Loading Requirements
- Section 5.7.4, Site Design and Building Organization (Mixed-Use)
- Section 7.8.4, Wall Signs
- Section 7.8.9, Awning Signs
- Section 7.8.17, Wall Murals