Guide to the Community Retail (CR) District in Dallas
The Community Retail (CR) district in Dallas is designed to provide for the development of mid-scale retail, personal service, and office uses that serve the broader community while remaining compatible with nearby residential areas. Within this district, structures are limited to a maximum height of 54 feet and four stories, with a total floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.75 for all uses combined [Section 51A-4.122]. The Dallas Community Retail (CR) district enforces strict side and rear yard setbacks of 20 feet when a property is adjacent to or directly across an alley from a residential district [Section 51A-4.122].
Purpose and General Character
The primary purpose of the Dallas Community Retail (CR) district is to manage the development of retail and service establishments that serve community needs rather than just immediate neighborhood needs. Because these developments are often located near single-family or multifamily neighborhoods, the City of Dallas utilizes specific "Residential Proximity Slope" (RPS) regulations and yard setbacks to preserve the environmental quality and character of those residential areas [Section 51A-4.121].
The general character of the Community Retail (CR) district is characterized by a mix of shopping centers, professional offices, and personal service businesses. While it allows for more intense activity than the Neighborhood Service (NS) district—such as auto service centers or restaurants with drive-through service—it maintains a lower intensity than regional retail or heavy commercial districts to protect the livability of the Municipality [Section 51A-4.122].
Permitted Land Uses
The City of Dallas permits a wide range of uses in the Community Retail (CR) district, many of which are subject to specific review processes such as a Specific Use Permit (SUP), Residential Adjacency Review (RAR), or Development Impact Review (DIR) [Section 51A-4.105].
Residential and Office Uses
- Residential: Generally limited to college dormitories, fraternities, or sorority houses [Section 51A-4.122].
- Office: Includes financial institutions (with or without drive-in windows), medical clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and general offices [Section 51A-4.122].
Retail and Personal Service Uses
- Standard Retail: Furniture stores, liquor stores, nurseries, pawn shops, and general merchandise or food stores of various sizes [Section 51A-4.122].
- Service Uses: Dry cleaning, laundry stores, and general personal service uses [Section 51A-4.122].
- Food Service: Restaurants both with and without drive-in or drive-through service (though these often require RAR or DIR approval) [Section 51A-4.122].
- Automotive: Auto service centers, car washes, and motor vehicle fueling stations [Section 51A-4.122].
Institutional and Community Service Uses
- Education: Child or adult care facilities, churches, and colleges [Section 51A-4.122].
- Public Services: Libraries, art galleries, and museums [Section 51A-4.122].
Technical Development Standards
The following table outlines the specific yard, lot, and space requirements for developments within the Dallas Community Retail (CR) district.
| Regulation | Standard |
|---|---|
| Front Yard Setback | 15 feet [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Side/Rear Yard Setback (if adjacent to R-MF districts) | 20 feet [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Side/Rear Yard Setback (other cases) | No minimum [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Maximum Structure Height | 54 feet [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Maximum Number of Stories | 4 stories [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (Office) | 0.5 [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (Total) | 0.75 [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 60% [Section 51A-4.122] |
| Minimum Lot Size | No minimum [Section 51A-4.122] |
Residential Proximity Slope (RPS)
In the Dallas Community Retail (CR) district, if any portion of a structure is over 26 feet in height, it cannot penetrate the Residential Proximity Slope. This slope is a plane projected upward and outward at a 1-to-3 ratio (approximately 18.4 degrees) starting from the boundary of an adjacent R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, or TH(A) district [Section 51A-4.122; Section 51A-4.412].
Parking and Loading Requirements
Parking is generally required for all main uses, with specific ratios determined by the use type. For example, general retail typically requires 1 space per 250 square feet of floor area, while restaurants require 1 space per 100 square feet [Section 51A-4.301].
In the Community Retail (CR) district, off-street loading spaces are prohibited from being located within the required front yard. If they are located in the front yard behind the setback line, they must be screened from the street by a fence or wall at least six feet in height [Section 51A-4.122].
Sections Cited
- SEC. 51A-4.105. INTERPRETATION OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS.
- SEC. 51A-4.121. OFFICE DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 51A-4.122. RETAIL DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 51A-4.301. OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS.
- SEC. 51A-4.412. RESIDENTIAL PROXIMITY SLOPE.