Guide to the Planned Residential Development (PRD) District in Bentonville

The Planned Residential Development (PRD) district in Bentonville is a residential-focused zone requiring a minimum of 15% common usable open space and the provision of at least two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit. This district is designed to implement Smart Growth and Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) principles, allowing for a mix of housing types including single-family homes, multi-family structures, and townhouses through a customized master site plan.

Purpose of the PRD District

The primary purpose of the Planned Residential Development (PRD) district is to enhance residential design by allowing for flexibility and variation from standard zoning and subdivision codes. The Bentonville Zoning Code intends for this district to coordinate project characteristics with the specific features of a site while encouraging innovations in energy conservation and the efficient use of infrastructure [Sec 401.11 (a)].

The Planned Residential Development (PRD) district aims to produce:

A maximum choice in living environments and housing units.
High-quality architectural design, placement, and orientation of structures.
Environments of stable character in harmony with surrounding Bentonville developments [Sec 401.11 (a)].

General Character and Design Principles

The Planned Residential Development (PRD) district is characterized by "Smart Growth" and "Traditional Neighborhood Design" (TND) principles. This results in a neighborhood character that emphasizes walkability and a "close-knit" feel [Sec 401.11 (b)].

Key character elements required in a Planned Residential Development (PRD) include:

Interconnected Networks: The use of narrow streets that are safe and pleasant for pedestrians, providing multiple routes for local traffic [Sec 401.11 (b)(6)].
Public Spaces: The integration of high-quality public spaces such as greenbelts, parks, plazas, squares, and courtyards that serve as organizing features for the neighborhood [Sec 401.11 (b)(7)].
Sensitive Site Design: Buildings must be sensitive to natural environmental conditions and should be oriented around public gathering spaces or prominent natural features [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(a)].
Entry Orientation: Main entrances of residential buildings are required to be oriented toward the adjoining street [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(c)].

Permitted Land Uses

The primary use of any land within a Planned Residential Development (PRD) must be residential. The Bentonville Zoning Code also allows for accessory residential uses and open space or recreation uses as permitted by the specific zone [Sec 401.11 (d)].

The district authorizes a variety of housing types, which may include:

Detached single-family homes.
Common wall dwellings (multi-family, condominiums, and duplex/patio homes).
Townhouses or row-houses (on individual or shared lots).
Zero lot line homes [Sec 401.11 (g)(5)].

Development and Technical Standards

Development in the Planned Residential Development (PRD) district is governed by a combination of fixed code requirements and a Master Site Plan that may modify certain traditional standards like density and setbacks [Sec 401.11 (e)].

Standard Category	Requirement
Common Usable Open Space	Minimum 15% of the total project area [Sec 401.11 (g)(1)(a)]
Off-Street Parking	2 spaces per residential unit [Sec 401.11 (g)(2)(a)]
Exterior Materials	Aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass siding may not exceed 50% of the structure [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(g)]
Rear/Side-Loading Garage Setback	Minimum 30 feet [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(h)]
Front-Loading Street-Facing Garage Setback	Minimum 20 feet [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(h)]
Front-Loading Garage Property Line Setback	Minimum 30 feet from the property line [Sec 401.11 (g)(6)(h)]
Street Frontage	Minimum 20 feet for all lots [Sec 401.11 (g)(3)]

Common Open Space Options

The required 15% common open space in a Planned Residential Development (PRD) must be improved for passive or active recreational use. Options include wetlands (up to 50% of the requirement), active detention ponds with recreation equipment, pedestrian paths, trails, public plazas, and community facilities like pools or tennis courts [Sec 401.11 (g)(1)(e)].

Sections Cited