Off-Street Parking Standards for the DC: Downtown Core District
In the City of Fayetteville, the DC: Downtown Core district does not require a minimum number of off-street parking spaces for non-residential (commercial) projects, although maximum limits still apply. Residential developments in the DC: Downtown Core must meet specific minimum ratios based on the type of dwelling and number of bedrooms, but developers may count adjacent on-street parking toward these requirements or petition to pay a $1,200 in-lieu fee per space. Furthermore, all parking in the DC: Downtown Core must be located to the side or rear of buildings to maintain the district’s urban form.
Non-Residential Parking Requirements
For all non-residential uses within the DC: Downtown Core district, the City of Fayetteville mandates that there shall be no minimum number of off-street parking spaces required [Section 172.05(A)]. However, the maximum number of spaces provided is limited to the ratios established in the code's general parking tables to prevent an over-supply of parking in the urban center [Section 172.05(A)].
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential projects in the DC: Downtown Core must provide off-street parking according to the following ratios. These requirements are subject to rounding, where any fraction of 0.5 or higher is rounded to the next higher whole number [Section 172.05(F)].
Table 1: Residential Parking Ratios
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required | Maximum Parking Spaces Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family | 2 per dwelling unit | None |
| Duplex, triplex, or quadplex | 2 per dwelling unit | 4 per dwelling unit |
| Townhouse | 2 per unit or 1 per bedroom (whichever is greater) | 1 per bedroom |
| Multi-family | 1 per bedroom | 1 per bedroom |
Mandatory Reductions for Residential Use
The City of Fayetteville provides mandatory parking reductions for residential developments in the DC: Downtown Core based on the scale of the project [Section 172.05(B)(1)]:
- 1—50 bedrooms: 35% reduction of total required spaces.
- 51—100 bedrooms: 20% reduction of total required spaces.
- 101—250 bedrooms: 15% reduction of total required spaces.
- 251+ bedrooms: 10% reduction of total required spaces.
Flexible Parking Options in the DC District
Because the DC: Downtown Core is intended to be a dense, walkable environment, the City of Fayetteville allows several alternatives to standard on-site parking:
- On-Street Parking Credit: Each on-street parking space adjacent to a project's frontage that complies with the adopted fire code may be counted toward the total parking requirements for the development [Section 172.05(G)].
- In-Lieu Fee: The Planning Commission has the authority to vary the number of required off-street spaces. If a variance is granted, the developer must pay an in-lieu fee of $1,200.00 for each required on-site parking space that is not provided [Section 156.03(C)(5)].
- Off-Site Parking: If parking cannot be provided on the same site as the principal use, the City of Fayetteville may allow parking lots to be located on other property within 600 feet of the principal use, subject to conditional use approval [Section 172.06(C)].
Design and Location Standards
The City of Fayetteville enforces strict design standards for the DC: Downtown Core to ensure that parking does not detract from the pedestrian experience:
- Front Yard Prohibition: Drive-thru lanes, parking lot drive aisles, and parking spaces are strictly prohibited in the front yard directly between a building and the Master Street Plan right-of-way. They must be located to the side or rear of the primary structure [Section 172.04(C)(4)].
- Build-to Zone Screening: Any portion of a parking lot located within the build-to zone must be screened by a masonry wall between 32 and 42 inches in height that is at least 50% opaque [Section 172.04(C)(1)].
- Maneuvering: Parking lots must be designed so that all vehicles can exit the lot in a forward motion [Section 172.04(A)].
Specialized Parking Requirements
Table 2: Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces
Developments in the DC: Downtown Core must provide accessible spaces for persons with disabilities per the following scale [Section 172.03(E)]:
| Total Parking Spaces in Lot or Garage | 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—1000 | 2% of total spaces |
| Over 1000 | 20 spaces + 1 per 100 spaces over 1,000 |
Table 3: Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Fayetteville requires the following minimum number of bicycle parking racks for new construction or expansions in the DC: Downtown Core [Section 172.10(C)]:
| Development Type | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Non-Residential | 1 rack per 20 automobile spaces (minimum 1 rack) |
| Residential | 1 rack per 30 dwelling units (minimum 1 rack) |
Sections Cited
- Section 156.03 - Development, Parking And Loading (Variances)
- Section 161.26 - District DC, Downtown Core
- Section 166.22 - Parking Garages
- Section 166.25 - Commercial, Office and Mixed-use Design And Development Standards
- Section 172.03 - Accessibility
- Section 172.04 - Parking Lot Design Standards
- Section 172.05 - Standards For The Number Of Spaces By Use
- Section 172.06 - Parking Lot Location Standards
- Section 172.10 - Bicycle Parking Rack Requirements