Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R-E: Residential Estate District in Bentonville
In the City of Bentonville R-E: Residential Estate district, residential developments such as single-family dwellings and duplexes require a minimum of two off-street parking spaces per unit. Institutional uses permitted in the R-E: Residential Estate district, including religious facilities, must provide one parking space for every four seats in the sanctuary, while child-care centers require one space per 500 square feet of net floor area plus one space per employee. All parking areas for projects involving more than five vehicles in a residential district must be approved through the City of Bentonville Large-Scale Development process.
General Applicability
The City of Bentonville requires adequate off-street parking and loading for every use of land within the corporate limits. In the R-E: Residential Estate district, these requirements must be met off the street easement as demand is created for each specific use [Sec 501.01]. When a building or structure is constructed, expanded in capacity, or undergoes a change of use, off-street parking must be provided in accordance with the standards established in the Zoning Code [Sec 501.01(b)].
Specific Parking Ratios
While the R-E: Residential Estate district is primarily intended for extremely low-density residential use, it also allows for certain institutional and agricultural uses either by right or via a conditional use permit. The following table outlines the parking ratios required for common residential and non-residential uses allowed within the City of Bentonville R-E: Residential Estate district.
Residential and Lodging Ratios
| Land Use Type | Required Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Dwelling | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Two-Family Dwelling/Duplex | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Patio Home Dwelling | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space per sleeping/rental unit plus 1 space for the owner |
| Manufactured Home (on individual lot) | 2 spaces per manufactured home |
Institutional and Public Use Ratios
| Land Use Type | Required Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Church Sanctuary | 1 space for each 4 seats based on maximum capacity |
| Nursery, Kindergarten, and Day-Care | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. of net floor area + 1 space per employee |
| Elementary/Middle/Jr. High School | 1 space per employee + 1 space per classroom |
| Auditoriums/Places of Public Assembly | 1 space for each 4 seats |
| Fire Stations | 1 space per 400 sq. ft. of net floor area |
[Sec 501.06(f)]
Design and Dimensional Standards
The City of Bentonville defines a standard 90-degree parking space as a rectangle measuring 9 feet by 19 feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles [Sec 501.02(a)]. However, single-family and duplex structures within the R-E: Residential Estate district are specifically exempt from these standard parking dimension requirements [Sec 501.02(d)].
For other uses requiring structured parking lots in the R-E: Residential Estate district, the following dimensional standards apply based on the angle of parking:
| Parking Angle | Width (ft.) | 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° Angle | 9 | 19 | 24 |
[Sec 501.02(c), Sec 501.02(d)]
Access and Driveway Width
In the R-E: Residential Estate district, if an off-street parking space does not directly abut a street or alley, an access drive must be provided. For dwellings, this drive must be at least 10 feet wide. For all other non-residential uses, the access drive must be at least 15 feet wide [Sec 501.02(b)].
Location and Configuration Requirements
- Maximum Distance: Off-street parking must be located within 200 feet of the structure it is intended to serve [Sec 501.03(a)].
- Ownership: Parking must generally be provided on the same lot as the principal use. If a conditional use permit is granted for parking on a separate lot, that lot must be under the same ownership to count toward fulfillment of the requirements for the R-E: Residential Estate district [Sec 501.04].
- Large-Scale Development: Any off-street parking lot designed for more than five vehicles in a residential district must be approved through the Large-Scale Development process and meet all City of Bentonville subdivision regulations [Sec 501.08].
- Surfacing: All parking areas must be paved with a sealed surface pavement, unless the City Engineer approves a low-impact development construction [Sec 501.07].
Sections Cited
- Section 401.07: Residential (R) Districts Regulations
- Section 501.01: Applicability
- Section 501.02: Parking Dimensions
- Section 501.03: Location of Off-Street Parking
- Section 501.04: Ownership
- Section 501.06: Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
- Section 501.07: Surfacing of Parking Lots
- Section 501.08: Off-Street Parking Lots in Residential Districts