Off-Street Parking Requirements for the DC: Downtown Core District in Bentonville

In the City of Bentonville's DC: Downtown Core district, off-street parking is not required for first-floor commercial spaces measuring less than 3,000 square feet, while residential units on upper floors must provide one parking space per unit. The City of Bentonville exempts the DC: Downtown Core district from the standard requirement that parking be located within 200 feet of the structure it serves, providing greater flexibility for urban development. Furthermore, existing structures in this district that undergo a change of use are not required to provide additional parking spaces beyond what currently exists.

Parking Ratios for New Construction and Additions

For new development within the DC: Downtown Core district, the City of Bentonville establishes specific parking ratios based on the floor level and the nature of the use. These requirements apply to the net floor area, which excludes halls, lobbies, stairways, and areas used for building maintenance or utilities [Sec 501.06].

Floor Level and Use Type	Minimum Parking Requirement
First Floor: Nonresidential (less than 3,000 sq. ft.)	None
First Floor: Nonresidential (greater than 3,000 sq. ft.)	1 space per 500 sq. ft.
Upper Floors: Residential	1 space per dwelling unit
Upper Floors: Other (Commercial/Office)	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft.

Rules for Existing and Razed Structures

The City of Bentonville provides specific relief for existing urban fabric within the DC: Downtown Core district to encourage the reuse of historic or established buildings.

Change of Use: If an existing structure in the DC: Downtown Core district undergoes a change of use, the parking requirements for new structures do not apply [Sec 501.06(d)(2)].
Razed Structures: If a building is demolished and replaced with a new structure, the parking requirement is calculated only on the additional square footage. Specifically, the requirement is based on the square footage of the new structure minus the square footage of the original building's footprint [Sec 501.06(d)(3)].

Parking Location and Distance

While most districts in the City of Bentonville require off-street parking to be situated within 200 feet of the structure being served, the DC: Downtown Core district is explicitly exempt from this maximum distance rule [Sec 501.03(a)]. This allows developers in the DC: Downtown Core district to utilize more distant parking lots or facilities to satisfy their requirements.

Waivers and Administrative Authority

The City of Bentonville Planning Commission maintains the authority to grant waivers regarding the parking standards for the DC: Downtown Core district [Sec 501.06(c)]. Developers may apply for these waivers if the specific circumstances of a project warrant a deviation from the established table of ratios.

ADA Accessibility Standards

All off-street parking facilities in the DC: Downtown Core district must comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The City of Bentonville mandates a minimum number of accessible spaces based on the total size of the parking facility [Sec 501.05].

Total Parking Spaces	Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces
1—25	1
26—50	2
51—75	3
76—100	4
101—150	5

Sections Cited