MSC: Main Street Center Zoning Regulations in Fayetteville
The MSC: Main Street Center zoning district in the City of Fayetteville is a high-intensity commercial zone designed to accommodate a diverse range of urban uses including retail, professional offices, and high-density residential lofts. Development in the Fayetteville MSC district emphasizes a traditional urban form, requiring a minimum buildable street frontage of 75% and establishing a height limit of five stories, which may increase to seven stories for portions of buildings set back further than 15 feet from the front property line.
Purpose and Intent of the MSC District
The City of Fayetteville established the MSC: Main Street Center district to encourage a spatially compact development pattern that supports a pedestrian-friendly environment. The district is intended for multi-story buildings that integrate various uses, such as ground-floor retail with residential lofts or offices above. Located within walking distance of primarily residential areas, the MSC district serves as a transition and a hub for community activity [Section 161.27(A)].
Authorized Uses in the MSC District
Uses in the MSC: Main Street Center district are categorized into those permitted by right and those that require a conditional use permit. Any use not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional is generally prohibited within the City of Fayetteville MSC district.
Permitted Uses by Right
The following use units are allowed by right in the MSC: Main Street Center district [Section 161.27(B)(1)]:
| Use Unit No. | Use Unit Title | Examples of Included Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | City-wide uses by right | Public parks, sidewalks, and essential services |
| Unit 4 | Cultural and recreational facilities | Museums, libraries, schools, and churches |
| Unit 5 | Government facilities | Post offices and governmental offices |
| Unit 8 | Single-family dwellings | Detached residential homes |
| Unit 9 | Two-family dwellings | Duplexes |
| Unit 10 | Three- and four-family dwellings | Triplexes and quadplexes |
| Unit 13 | Eating places | Restaurants and cafes |
| Unit 14 | Hotel, motel and amusement facilities | Hotels and membership lodges |
| Unit 16 | Shopping goods | Department stores and general merchandise |
| Unit 17 | Transportation trades and services | Car rentals and express services |
| Unit 19 | Commercial recreation, small sites | Billiard parlors and bowling alleys |
| Unit 24 | Home occupation | Small businesses operated within a residence |
| Unit 25 | Offices, studios, and related services | Medical clinics, professional offices, and banks |
| Unit 26 | Multi-family dwellings | Apartments and townhouses |
| Unit 34 | Liquor stores | Retail sale of alcoholic beverages |
| Unit 40 | Sidewalk cafes | Open-air dining on public or private sidewalks |
| Unit 41 | Accessory dwelling units | Subordinate residential units on a lot |
| Unit 44 | Cluster Housing Development | Coordinated groupings of residential units |
| Unit 45 | Small scale production | Microbreweries and boutique manufacturing |
| Unit 46 | Short-term rentals | Residential units leased for less than 30 days |
Conditional Uses
The following uses may be permitted in the MSC: Main Street Center district only after receiving approval from the Planning Commission [Section 161.27(B)(2)]:
| Use Unit No. | Use Unit Title | Requirements/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 2 | City-wide uses by conditional use permit | Includes campgrounds and bed and breakfasts |
| Unit 3 | Public protection and utility facilities | Electrical regulating and pressure control stations |
| Unit 18 | Gasoline service stations | Includes drive-in/drive-through restaurants |
| Unit 28 | Center for collecting recyclable materials | Facilities for processing paper, glass, and metal |
| Unit 29 | Dance halls | Establishments providing areas for dancing |
| Unit 35 | Outdoor music establishments | Venues with amplified outdoor music |
| Unit 36 | Wireless communications facilities | Antennas and cellular towers |
| Unit 42 | Clean technologies | Alternative energy fabrication and R&D |
| Unit 48 | Private dormitories | Housing constructed specifically for students |
Prohibited Uses
While the Fayetteville Unified Development Code does not provide an exhaustive list of every prohibited use, any use not classified as permitted or conditional is forbidden in the MSC district. Specifically, the following common Use Units are not authorized in MSC [Section 161.27(B)]:
- Unit 23 (Heavy Industrial): Uses causing significant environmental effects (noise, odor, etc.).
- Unit 30 (Extractive Uses): Mining and rock crushing.
- Unit 32 (Sexually Oriented Business): Adult theaters and bookstores.
- Unit 39 (Auto Salvage and Junk Yards): Dismantling or storage of inoperable vehicles.
- Unit 47 (Data Centers): Facilities engaged in digital data processing or cryptocurrency mining.
Development Standards for MSC
All development in the MSC: Main Street Center district must comply with specific bulk, area, and height regulations designed to maintain its urban character [Section 161.27(C)-(G)].
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Density | None |
| Lot Width Minimum | None |
| Lot Area Minimum | None |
| Front Setback (Build-to Zone) | 10 feet minimum to 25 feet maximum from property line |
| Side Setback | None |
| Rear Setback | 5 feet (12 feet if measured from the centerline of an alley) |
| Max Building Height | 5 stories (7 stories for portions set back > 15 feet from front line) |
| Max Building Area | Total lot coverage by all buildings shall not exceed 40% |
| Min. Buildable Street Frontage | 75% of the lot width |
Sections Cited
- Section 160.01 - Establishment Of Districts
- Section 161.27 - District MSC, Main Street Center
- Section 162.01 - Use Unit Establishment/Listing
- Section 163.02 - Authority; Conditions, Procedures (Conditional Uses)
- Section 166.24 - Nonresidential Design Standards (referencing MSC)
- Section 172.05 - Parking Standards (Table 3)