Bentonville DN-3 Downtown High Density Residential Parking Standards

In the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district of the City of Bentonville, residential developments are required to provide one off-street parking space per dwelling unit, which may be satisfied through on-site parking, on-street parking, or shared parking agreements. To preserve the urban character of the City of Bentonville, all surface parking in the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district must be located specifically at the side or rear of the primary building. Mixed-use projects containing commercial elements must clearly distinguish between resident and customer parking and comply with general use ratios established by the zoning code.

Residential Parking Ratios for DN-3

The City of Bentonville establishes specific reduced parking ratios for the Downtown Neighborhood districts to encourage density and walkable urban design. For any residential project within the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district, the following ratio applies:

Use Category	Required Parking Ratio
Residential Development	1 space per dwelling unit

These residential requirements in the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district may be achieved via three primary methods:

1. On-site parking.
2. On-street parking.
3. A shared parking agreement [Sec 501.06(e)(1)(a)].

Commercial and Mixed-Use Parking Requirements

Commercial uses in the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district are generally required to be located within mixed-use buildings unless the Planning Commission approves a conditional use permit for a single-use commercial structure [Sec 401.07-B(c)(2)]. In these mixed-use environments, the City of Bentonville requires that parking be clearly marked to distinguish between residents and employees or customers [Sec 501.06(e)(1)(b)].

While the residential portion follows the 1:1 ratio, the commercial components must follow the general parking ratios unless a specific waiver is granted by the Planning Commission [Sec 501.06(c)].

Commercial Use Example	General Parking Ratio (Applicable to DN-3)
General Business and Retail Sales	1 space per 250 sq. ft. of net floor area (up to 10,000 sq. ft.)
Restaurants	1 space per 4 occupants at max permitted occupancy plus 1 space per employee on largest shift
Business and Professional Office	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area
Personal Service Establishments	1 space per employee plus 1 space per station

For any commercial uses not explicitly listed, the Planning Commission will determine the parking demand and set the requirement accordingly [Sec 501.06(b)].

Design and Location Mandates

The City of Bentonville imposes strict location requirements for any off-street parking facilities in the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district to ensure that the streetscape remains oriented toward pedestrians rather than vehicles.

• Placement: All off-street parking lots must be located to the rear or side of the primary building or structure [Sec 501.03(c)].
• Pedestrian Movement: Surface parking must be designed to ensure that vehicles entering and exiting do not interrupt pedestrian movement at the front of the building [Sec 501.06(e)(1)(c)].
• Alley Access: Alleys within the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district must remain clear and passable at all times [Sec 501.06(e)(1)(d)].
• Distance: Off-street parking must be located within 200 feet of the structure it serves [Sec 501.03(a)].

Standard Parking Dimensions

All parking spaces provided within the DN-3: Downtown High Density Residential district must adhere to the standard dimensions based on the angle of the parking provided, with the exception of single-family and duplex structures, which are exempt from these specific dimensional requirements [Sec 501.02(d)].

Parking Angle	Stall Width (ft.)	Stall Depth (ft.)	Maneuvering Area (ft.)
Parallel	9	22	11
30° Angle	18	17.3	11
45° Angle	12.7	19.8	13
60° Angle	10.4	21	18
90° (Standard)	9	19	24

Sections Cited

• Sec 401.02 Classification Of Districts
• Sec 401.07-B Downtown Neighborhood (DN) Districts Regulations
• Sec 501.02 Parking Dimensions
• Sec 501.03 Location Of Off-Street Parking
• Sec 501.06 Number Of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required