Setback Requirements for PRD: Planned Residential Development District in Bentonville

In the City of Bentonville, the PRD: Planned Residential Development district does not have fixed, universal setback distances; instead, all front, side, and rear setbacks are established through the approval of a project-specific Master Site Plan. While these setbacks are flexible to encourage innovative design, the City of Bentonville mandates specific minimum setbacks for garages and requires that perimeter setbacks be compatible with the character of adjacent developments.

Establishment of Setbacks through Master Site Plans

The PRD: Planned Residential Development district is a combination of zoning designation and a master site plan. Because the City of Bentonville intended this district to allow for variation from standard codes, the specific setbacks for any given PRD: Planned Residential Development district must be included in the Master Site Plan submitted for approval [Section 401.11(c)(1)(b)].

The City of Bentonville allows the Master Site Plan to modify traditional zoning and development standards, including building and garage setbacks [Section 401.11(e)(1)(b)]. Once the City Council approves the ordinance and the associated site plan, those specific setbacks become the law for that particular zoning parcel [Section 401.11(c)].

PRD Setback Determination Standards

Setback Type	PRD: Planned Residential Development District Standard
Front, Side, and Rear Building Setbacks	Determined by the approved Master Site Plan [Section 401.11(c)(1)(b)]
Garage Setbacks	Determined by the approved Master Site Plan and design minimums [Section 401.11(c)(1)(n)]
Perimeter Setbacks	Determined by compatibility with adjacent developments [Section 401.11(g)(3)]

Perimeter and Compatibility Requirements

To ensure that a new PRD: Planned Residential Development district is compatible with the surrounding community, the developer must submit specific information regarding setbacks for all "perimeter lots." These are lots adjacent to the boundary of the PRD: Planned Residential Development district or adjacent to any boundary or perimeter street right-of-way [Section 401.11(g)(3)].

The City of Bentonville Planning Commission and City Council do not apply a pre-set number for these perimeter setbacks. Instead, they consider the "nature, extent, and character of the adjacent development" and take existing area regulations of neighboring properties into account when determining if the proposed PRD: Planned Residential Development district setbacks are appropriate [Section 401.11(g)(3)].

Specific Garage Setback Standards

While building setbacks are generally flexible, the City of Bentonville establishes clear structural design standards for garages within a PRD: Planned Residential Development district. These standards vary based on the orientation of the garage and the method of loading [Section 401.11(g)(6)(h)].

PRD Minimum Garage Setbacks

Garage Configuration	Minimum Setback Requirement
Rear-loading Garage	30 feet [Section 401.11(g)(6)(h)]
Side-loading Street-facing Garage	20 feet [Section 401.11(g)(6)(h)]
Front-loading Garage	30 feet from the property line [Section 401.11(g)(6)(h)]

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