Council approves amendment to Bakermore LLC development agreement to allow highway-commercial uses

The Arlington City Council approved the first amendment to the Bakermore LLC development agreement, expanding allowable mixed-use and highway-commercial uses on the site—s smallest parcel (Lot D) fronting 170th Avenue. The change aims to increase the site—s retail potential given its highway frontage.

Paul (staff) presented the amendment, explaining the development is a mixed-use project with a 55-plus apartment component on much of the site and that Lot D fronts 170th and is small; the amendment would expand permissible uses to allow more highway-commercial options. "This proposed amendment would expand the mixed use allowable uses in that lot to include more, highway commercial," Paul said.

Council asked for clarifications. Councilmember Jan Schweddy noted concern about potential drive-throughs and traffic on 40th and 170th and asked whether the amendment would permit high-rise apartments; Paul said vertical mixed-use with residential above commercial remains an option but the amendment primarily facilitates highway-commercial uses such as restaurants, retail and potentially a drive-through. Staff said that if a drive-through is proposed, additional work on 40th (Road 40) to accommodate traffic flow would be required.

Council voted to approve the amendment and authorized the mayor to sign the agreement.

Clarifying details: the parcel is programmed for about 16,000 square feet and could accommodate multiple uses; any drive-through would require traffic mitigation and likely physical changes along Road 40/170th to avoid queueing on 170th. The amendment does not itself approve any specific tenant or building design; it modifies allowable uses under the development agreement.

Next steps: the amendment is effective upon mayoral signature; individual development proposals will require subsequent permits and any traffic mitigation would be reviewed through the permitting and engineering review process.