Arlington County Releases Guidance On Office Use Conversions

Office Use Conversions in Arlington County got a step closer as the county released draft amendments to its zoning ordinance to implement the next phase of the county's Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI). This amendment allows for conversions of use within existing structures to occur without the need for a major site plan amendment, creating a new process for an "adaptive reuse amendment."

The adaptive reuse amendment process may be used for most buildings (1) that have been occupied for at least 5 years following initial construction, (2) in which the principal use of the building is at least 50% office, and (3) that propose that at least 50% of existing office GFA will be converted to an alternative, permitted use. Certain increases in density are permitted for adaptive reuse amendments, through both the conversion of existing space within the building and limited building additions. Limited increases in height up to two stories are also permitted.