Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative

Removing regulatory barriers to achieve market solutions.

The Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative is a strategy to modernize Arlington’s regulations, practices, and processes to ensure a nimbler response to economic shifts. By removing regulatory barriers and constraints, the County seeks to enable market-based solutions to address the commercial building supply, specifically repositioning and converting obsolete inventory.

Since 2022, the County has established new and shifting uses for commercial spaces to increase opportunities for businesses. For details, see the lists of in-progress and completed studies below.

The second phase of this initiative, known as CMRI 2.0, will focus on five strategic areas: office conversionrepositioningredevelopmenttenant support, and placemaking. The County has identified specific workstreams for staff, so they can act quickly to address all strategic areas simultaneously. The County will engage with the community as appropriate for each area to solicit input and feedback on how we are approaching this important issue. 

Adaptive Reuse Policy

Key to CMRI 2.0 is an effort to address rising office vacancy rates and falling office values while reshaping the future of commercial real estate. On November 16, 2024, the Arlington County Board adopted a policy on transforming outdated office buildings into vibrant, multi-use spaces. This adaptive reuse initiative positions Arlington as a leader in tackling urban challenges with forward-thinking solutions, fostering economic growth and community vibrancy.

 

Studies in Progress

Strategic Amendments to Sign Regulations

Tentative Completion Date: 2025

The purpose of this study is to consider, among other things, greater flexibility for: signs placed above a height of 40 feet; signs in C, M, and P districts and for public, civic, and institutional uses in all zoning districts; certain freestanding signs placed on retaining, screening, structural, or landscape planter walls for properties governed under site plans or Form Based Code use permits; and temporary signs, regulated under §13.16 of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, for construction and sale/leasing, including the removal of a permit requirement and accommodating street construction. 

The proposed amendments to selected sign regulations primarily for Arlington’s commercial districts, coupled with commensurate consideration of impacts and benefits to the broader public and to the County’s economic well-being, closely align with the Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative’s (CMRI) goals and objectives. The proposed amendments were developed with input from staff’s work with tenants, including both small and large businesses; feedback received from business-related stakeholders; staff’s continued application of the regulations and desire to improve clarity; and best practices.

Staff Contacts  

Schedule

Major/Minor Site Plan Amendments and Administrative Changes

Tentative Completion Date: 2025–2026

The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential updates to §15.5.3., which governs modifications to approved site plans. The study would identify options for scaling the site plan amendment and administrative change process to better match the applicant's desired degree of change with the time it takes to obtain approval. The desired outcome will be greater certainty and predictability on the expected time frames and outcomes for site plan amendment and administrative change applications.

Learn more on the Zoning Studies webpage.

Self-Storage

On-Hold

Tentative Completion Date: 2025–2026

Self-service storage is currently permitted in a limited capacity in the ACZO, and this study proposes to explore the potential applicability of this use for available space like vacant offices and garages. Currently, though this use is considered a retail, service, and commercial use, it is only permitted by right in the ACZO’s Industrial districts and with special exception approval in the C-TH Commercial Town Home District. The study would analyze the potential impacts of expanding self-service storage further into mixed-use, urban areas. 

Staff Contact 

Schedule 

  • May 18, 2024: County Board Request to Advertise (RTA) 
    • Initially advertised with County Board consideration no earlier than September 2024. 
    • County Board action now not anticipated until 2025. 
  • No additional public meetings have been scheduled to date for this study. 

Live/Work

On-Hold

Tentative Completion Date: 2025–2026

The purpose of this study is to research how an expanded concept of live/work units can be further incorporated in the ACZO to allow for added flexibility, and whether standards, especially regarding parking, are appropriate. Staff will also consider Building Code implications associated with the proposed live/work use expansion. Additionally, staff will investigate how such proposed amendments would interact with current regulations for home occupations. 

Staff Contact 

Marc McCauley, AED 
703-228-0835 

Schedule 

  • May 18, 2024: County Board Request to Advertise (RTA) 
    • Initially advertised with County Board consideration no earlier than September 2024. 
    • County Board action now not anticipated until 2025–2026.
  • No additional public meetings have been scheduled to date for this study.  

Completed Studies

More information on the following studies related to the CMRI can be found on the Zoning Ordinance Amendments page.

2024

  • ZOA-2024-01 (Compact parking spaces exemption; parking for athletic & health clubs): Adopted April 20, 2024 
  • ZOA-2024-02 (Shared parking and off-site parking): Adopted May 21, 2024 
  • ZOA-2024-03 (Outdoor visual entertainment): Adopted May 18, 2024 
  • ZOA-2024-04 (C-O Rosslyn Provisions for Additional Density): Adopted July 22, 2024 
  • ZOA-2024-09 (Adaptive Reuse Policy and Zoning Ordinance Amendment): Adopted November 16, 2024


2023

  • ZOA-2023-01(Colleges/Universities, Animal boarding, Urban agriculture, Artisan Manufacturing (Beverage; Workshop)): Adopted January 21, 2023
  • ZOA-2023-04 (Indoor Recreation): Adopted April 22, 2023
  • ZOA-2023-06 (Research & development flex; Audio-visual/broadcast): Adopted May 13, 2023 
  • ZOA-2023-08 (Food delivery; Ghost kitchens; Shared commercial kitchens): Adopted June 10, 2023

2022

  • ZOA-2022-03 (Micro-fulfillment Centers): Adopted October 15, 2022

Additional Resources 

More information about the Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI) can be found below: