Uses and Regulations for the CC: Community Commercial District in Arlington, Texas

The CC: Community Commercial district in the City of Arlington is primarily intended for nodal developments located at the intersection of two arterial streets, emphasizing retail, office, and service uses for the community. While residential uses like multi-family and live/work units are permitted subject to supplemental standards, traditional single-family homes and most automotive-related or industrial uses are prohibited. Dimensional standards for the CC: Community Commercial district include a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet and a 20-foot setback when adjacent to single-family residential properties [Sections 2.3.5, 3.1.5, and 5.4.3].

Purpose and Scope of the CC District

The CC: Community Commercial district is established by the City of Arlington to provide suitable sites for community and regional retail shopping centers. These centers typically contain a broad variety of commercial establishments, including retail stores, restaurants, professional offices, and commercial recreation facilities. Development in the CC: Community Commercial district is generally expected to occur in concentrated "nodes" at major roadway intersections rather than in a linear "strip" fashion [Section 2.3.5].

Allowed Land Uses

Land uses within the City of Arlington are categorized as Permitted (P), Permitted subject to Supplemental Standards (P*), or requiring a Specific Use Permit (S or S*). A blank cell in the municipal use tables indicates the use is prohibited.

Residential and Mixed-Uses

The CC: Community Commercial district allows for higher-density residential integration but prohibits low-density residential types.

Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Mixed-use development or buildings, multi-family dwellings, and live/work units.
Prohibited: Single-family detached dwellings, duplexes, townhouses, and manufactured homes [Table 3.1-2].

Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses

The CC: Community Commercial district supports various public services and community amenities.

Permitted (P): Art galleries, museums, domestic violence shelters, government administration and civic buildings, mortuaries, funeral chapels, philanthropic institutions, and religious assemblies.
Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Business schools, public or private schools, universities, colleges, seminaries, and medical or dental clinics.
Prohibited: Correctional facilities and emergency shelters [Table 3.1-2].

Commercial, Retail, and Service Uses

This category represents the primary intended activity for the CC: Community Commercial district in the City of Arlington.

Permitted (P): Bank or financial institutions, catering services, restaurants (without drive-through), telemarketing call centers, general personal services, massage therapy clinics, firearms sales, and swimming pool/spa sales.
Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Veterinary clinics, sidewalk cafes, bed and breakfast inns, day care centers, nursery or garden shops, and building/landscaping material sales.
Specific Use Permit Required (S/S*): Alternative financial institutions, restaurants with drive-through service, small box discount stores, and specialty paraphernalia sales.
Prohibited: Bars, all types of hotels (Luxury, Upscale, Economy, etc.), and secondhand goods stores [Table 3.1-2].

Recreation and Entertainment

Permitted (P): Country clubs, golf courses, and lodges or fraternal organizations.
Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): General indoor recreation, skating rinks, teen clubs, and indoor theatres.
Specific Use Permit Required (S*): Banquet halls, bingo parlors, billiard parlors, bowling alleys, and nightclubs or live entertainment venues [Table 3.1-2].

Industrial and Utility Uses

Industrial activity is severely restricted in the CC: Community Commercial district to maintain compatibility with retail and office uses.

Permitted (P): Flex, office, or commerce uses, and utility lines/metering stations.
Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Food processing (subject to square footage limits) and various telecommunication facilities.
Specific Use Permit Required (S*): Gas wells.
Prohibited: Heavy machinery rental/sales, asphalt/concrete plants, and most manufacturing or salvage operations [Table 3.1-2].

Prohibited Uses

The City of Arlington expressly prohibits several uses within the CC: Community Commercial district to preserve the district's character. Key prohibited uses include:

Residential: All single-family and two-family dwelling types.
Group Living: Halfway houses, nursing homes, and independent senior living facilities.
Automotive: Auto service centers, major auto repair, car washes, and motor vehicle sales or rentals.
Lodging: All conventional hotel and motel classifications and RV parks.
Retail/Service: Pawn shops, package liquor stores, and sexually oriented businesses [Table 3.1-2].

Dimensional and Technical Standards

Development within the CC: Community Commercial district must adhere to specific spatial requirements and parking ratios defined by the City of Arlington.

Site Development Standards

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Lot Area	10,000 square feet
Freeway or Frontage Road Setback	20 feet
All Other Street Setbacks	10 feet
Side and/or Rear Setback	0 feet
Setback Adjacent to Single-Family (side/rear)	20 feet
Maximum Building Height	N/A (refer to Article 4)
Maximum Lot Coverage	N/A
[Section 2.3.5]

Off-Street Parking Requirements

Use Type	Required Number of Spaces
General Retail Store	3 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Office, Business or Professional	2.5 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Restaurant	10 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Medical or Dental Office/Clinic	4 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Bank or Financial Institution	2.5 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Nightclub	14 per 1,000 square feet GFA
[Section 5.4.3 and Table 5.4-1]

Sections Cited

Section 2.3.5: Community Commercial | CC
Table 3.1-2: Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
Section 3.2.3: Commercial Uses
Section 5.4.3: Off-Street Parking Standards
Table 5.4-1: Off-Street Parking Schedule A