Wells Avenue Neighborhood Parking Standards for General Commercial Uses

In Reno, NV, properties zoned as General Commercial (GC) within the Wells Avenue Neighborhood Planning Area (WANP) are subject to a combination of city-wide parking district standards and neighborhood-specific overlay regulations. The required amount of parking is primarily determined by whether the property is designated as "Wells Avenue Mixed-Use" (WA-MU) or "Urban Residential/Commercial" within the neighborhood plan.

Parking District Classifications

The Wells Avenue Neighborhood is generally governed by the Level 2 Parking District standards, except where the overlay district specifies otherwise [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)c].

• Level 2 Parking District: Applies to most GC uses in Wells Avenue.
• Downtown Parking District Standards: These apply to specific uses (restaurant, bar, and retail) within the WA-MU designation, effectively removing the minimum parking requirement for those specific uses [Section 18.02.603(g)(3)a].

Required Parking Ratios for Commercial Uses

For nonresidential uses in the WANP, the following minimum parking requirements apply based on the use type and the property's designation in the Land Use Framework Map:

Wells Avenue Mixed-Use (WA-MU) Designation

If a GC-zoned property is located within the WA-MU area, the following rules apply:

• Restaurant, Bar, and Retail: These uses have no minimum parking requirement, as they must comply with Downtown Parking District standards [Section 18.02.603(g)(3)a].
• Other Nonresidential Uses: These must comply with the Level 2 Parking District minimums. However, the Administrator may grant a reduction of up to 50%. Total provided parking cannot exceed the Level 2 minimum [Section 18.02.603(g)(3)a].

Standard Level 2 Parking Ratios (General Commercial)

For properties not designated as WA-MU, or for uses requiring Level 2 compliance, the standard ratios from Table 4-6 apply:

• General Office: 1 space per 400 square feet [Section 18.04.705, Table 4-6].
• General Retail (less than 10,000 sq. ft.): 1 space per 250 square feet [Section 18.04.705, Table 4-6].
• Financial Institution: 1 space per 400 square feet [Section 18.04.705, Table 4-6].
• Personal Services (General): 1 space per 300 square feet [Section 18.04.705, Table 4-6].
• Medical Facility (Day Use): 1 space per 400 square feet [Section 18.04.705, Table 4-6].

Alternative Parking and Credits

The Wells Avenue Neighborhood Plan allows for several adjustments to help meet parking requirements:

• Existing Structures: For structures issued a building permit before April 1, 2017, the property owner determines the amount of parking provided [Section 18.02.603(g)(3)a].
• On-Street Parking Credit: Up to 50% of the required off-street parking may be substituted with on-street parking, subject to administrative approval [Section 18.02.603(g)(3)b].
• Shared Parking: Shared parking is recommended for commercial and mixed-use developments. This may be granted based on a parking study [Section 18.02.603(g)(8)m].

Design and Location Standards

Commercial parking within the WANP must adhere to specific design criteria to maintain the neighborhood's pedestrian-oriented character:

• Front Yard Prohibition: For residential-style buildings or certain sub-districts, off-street parking is generally prohibited in the front yard setback [Section 18.02.603(g)(4)f].
• Pedestrian Access: Safe and convenient pedestrian access must be provided from parking or transit areas to building entrances [Section 18.02.603(g)(8)m].
• Bicycle Parking: Bicycle parking must be located adjacent to or inside the building [Section 18.02.603(g)(8)m]. Standard requirements for commercial uses in Level 2 districts include 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. (up to 6,000 sq. ft.), plus 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. thereafter [Section 18.04.705(c), Table 4-8].
• Lighting: Lighting from commercial properties must not create more than 0.50 foot-candle of spillover at adjacent residential property lines. Light standards are limited to 20 feet in height [Section 18.02.603(g)(8)j].