Arlington’s plan for a new way of zoning is taking shape with new recommendations to make downtown stand out.
The strategy, known as form-based code, moves away from traditional zoning that has specific restrictions for how a piece of land is used. Instead, the city creates a list of options – such as retail, office, multi-family and mixed use – that can be there. The council selected downtown as a pilot area last year.
The city can also create requirements that dictate, for instance, structure and sign aesthetics, building height, parking options and space between the street and the building…