Off-Street Parking Standards for the CNP Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial District
In the CNP Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial District of the City of Long Beach, all off-street parking must be situated behind the primary buildings to maintain a continuous, pedestrian-friendly street frontage [Section 21.32.020.B.1]. While standard residential and commercial parking ratios apply throughout the municipality, non-residential projects located within "Area D" of the coastal zone (Second Street) are eligible for a 50 percent reduction in required spaces and the use of tandem parking [Section 21.41.226].
General Parking Requirements in the CNP District
The City of Long Beach established the CNP district to prioritize the pedestrian environment. Consequently, the Zoning Regulations require that buildings be located along the primary street frontage with parking area access and storage generally restricted to the rear of the lot [Section 21.32.020.B.1]. Drive-thru lanes are strictly prohibited within the CNP district to prevent vehicle-pedestrian conflicts [Section 21.52.247].
Parking Area Setbacks
Parking areas in the CNP district must adhere to specific setbacks to ensure they do not dominate the streetscape or negatively impact adjacent properties.
| Condition | Required Setback |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 30 feet |
| Side Street | 6 feet |
| Adjacent to Nonresidential District | 0 feet |
| Adjacent to Residential District | 5 feet |
Note: In all cases, a minimum setback of 10 feet from the curb face is required [Section 21.32.220, Table 32-2].
Residential Project Ratios
Residential developments within the CNP district must provide parking based on the number of bedrooms per unit. For projects in the Coastal Zone, these requirements are higher for one-bedroom units [Section 21.41.229].
| Unit Type | Standard Parking (Spaces/Unit) | Coastal Zone Only (Spaces/Unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (less than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 br > 451 sq. ft.) | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 2 or more Bedrooms | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units | 1 space per 4 units |
Note: Guest parking requirements are triggered for projects with four or more detached or attached dwelling units [Section 21.41.216, Table 41-1A].
Commercial and Professional Project Ratios
The City of Long Beach utilizes various ratios for non-residential uses. The most common commercial uses in the CNP district are subject to the following standards [Section 21.41.216, Table 41-1C]:
| Use Classification | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood Shopping Centers | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Professional Office | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Ready-to-Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| General Retail Trade | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Banks and Financial Services | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Special Provisions for Area D (Coastal Zone)
The City of Long Beach provides unique parking exemptions for properties in the CNP district located in "Area D" of the coastal zone (defined as Second Street between Livingston Drive and Bayshore Avenue) [Section 21.41.226].
Reduced Parking Ratios
Non-residential uses in Area D are required to provide only one-half (1/2) of the parking spaces otherwise mandated in Table 41-1C. However, this 50 percent reduction does not apply to the construction or conversion of standard restaurants; only "ready-to-eat" restaurants (such as bakeries or donut shops) qualify for this reduction [Section 21.41.226.A].
Tandem Parking
Within Area D, new parking or reconfigured existing parking may utilize tandem parking arrangements. These are limited to a maximum of two spaces in depth, and no more than 25 percent of the total required parking spaces may be in tandem [Section 21.41.226.A and Section 21.41.235].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.2332 - Restaurant, ready-to-eat food
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established (Commercial)
- Section 21.32.220 - Yards (Commercial)
- Section 21.32.235 - Residential uses in commercial districts
- Section 21.41.216 - Parking—Required number of spaces
- Section 21.41.226 - Special parking requirements for CNP district
- Section 21.41.229 - Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones
- Section 21.41.235 - Tandem parking
- Section 21.52.247 - Building design in the CNP zone