Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-3 Mixed-Use Commercial District in Bentonville
In the City of Bentonville C-3 Mixed-Use Commercial district, all off-street parking facilities must be located to the side or rear of the primary building or structure to maintain an urban, walkable character. Residential projects within this district typically require two parking spaces per unit for single-family or duplex dwellings, while standard commercial retail uses require one space per 250 square feet of net floor area. The Bentonville Planning Commission maintains the authority to grant waivers on these parking standards for specific developments.
General Placement and Applicability
The City of Bentonville requires that all new construction, expansions, or changes in use provide adequate off-street parking and loading according to the standards set forth in the zoning code [Sec 501.01]. Specifically for the C-3 Mixed-Use Commercial district, parking lots are prohibited in the front yard and must be situated to the side or rear of the primary structure [Sec 501.03].
Parking Space Ratios
The number of required spaces in the C-3 Mixed-Use Commercial district is determined by the specific land use of the project. For structures exceeding 10,000 square feet, the City of Bentonville allows for a sliding scale reduction in the number of required spaces for the portion of the building area above that threshold [Sec 501.06].
Residential Parking Requirements
| Residential Use Type | Required Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Dwelling | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Two-Family Dwelling (Duplex) | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Dwelling | 3 spaces for each two dwelling units |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space per rental unit + 1 space for the owner |
Commercial and Institutional Parking Requirements
| Commercial/Institutional Use Type | Required Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| General Business and Retail Sales | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of net floor area* |
| Business and Professional Office | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area* |
| Medical Clinics | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area |
| Restaurants | 1 space per 4 occupants (max capacity) + 1 per employee (largest shift) |
| Hotel or Motel | 1 space per guest room + additional spaces for employees/facilities |
| Personal Service Establishments | 1 space per employee + 1 space per station |
*Note: For these uses, the City of Bentonville applies a reduction for large structures: 95% of the requirement for area between 10,001–20,000 sq. ft.; 90% for 20,001–30,000 sq. ft.; 85% for 30,001–40,000 sq. ft.; and 80% for area above 40,000 sq. ft. [Sec 501.06].
Technical Design and Dimensions
The standard size for a 90-degree off-street parking space in the City of Bentonville is 9 feet in width by 19 feet in depth [Sec 501.02]. All parking areas must be paved with a sealed surface pavement unless the City Engineer approves an alternative as part of a low-impact development [Sec 501.07].
Parking Dimension Standards
| Parking Angle | Width (ft.) | Depth (ft.) | Maneuvering Area (ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parallel | 9 | 22 | 11 |
| 30 Degree | 18 | 17.3 | 11 |
| 45 Degree | 12.7 | 19.8 | 13 |
| 60 Degree | 10.4 | 21 | 18 |
| 90 Degree (Standard) | 9 | 19 | 24 |
Accessibility Requirements
Developments in the C-3 Mixed-Use Commercial district must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for accessible parking. The minimum number of accessible spaces is determined by the total number of spaces provided in the lot [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 |
| 151—200 | 6 |
| 201—300 | 7 |
| 301—400 | 8 |
| 401—500 | 9 |
| 501—1,000 | 2% of total spaces |
Shared and Joint Facilities
The City of Bentonville encourages joint parking facilities where two or more uses are located in a single building or an integrated complex. In these instances, the total requirement is the sum of the individual requirements, but facilities may be shared if the developers enter into a shared parking agreement as part of the site development review process [Sec 501.09, Sec 501.06].
Sections Cited
- Sec 401.02 Classification Of Districts
- Sec 401.08 Commercial (C) Districts Regulations
- Sec 501.01 Applicability
- Sec 501.02 Parking Dimensions
- Sec 501.03 Location Of Off-Street Parking
- Sec 501.05 Accessibility
- Sec 501.06 Number Of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
- Sec 501.07 Surfacing Of Parking Lots
- Sec 501.09 Joint Parking Facilities