1.

Applicability and general requirements.

(a)

Off-street parking, loading, and stacking area shall be required for all uses in all zoning districts and required to meet these standards when:

(1)

A principal building is built, expanded, or enlarged.

(2)

A drive-through is added or expanded.

(3)

An off-street parking or loading area is expanded.

(4)

A use is established.

(5)

A certificate of occupancy is requested.

(b)

Uses in the C-1 Central Commercial District shall be exempt from providing off-street parking. However, where off-street parking, loading, or a drive-through/stacking is provided, the standards of this section shall be met.

(c)

Once established, off-street parking, loading, or stacking areas shall meet the requirements of this section. Any required off-street parking, loading, or stacking may not be removed without the approval of the planning commission.

2.

Establishment of off-street parking.

(a)

Off-street parking shall be considered to be established when paved and marked for use or when used on a permanent basis. A permanent basis shall be considered once per seven days for a period of at least 30 days or as evidenced by signs of consistent use for parking by creation of a barren spot on the ground or presence of a graveled surface. Parking areas not considered permanent shall not be subject to the requirements of this section.

3.

Off-street parking lot design standards.

(a)

Surfacing. Off-street parking lots shall be surfaced meeting the following standards:

(1)

Parking and loading areas accessible to the public. Off-street parking lots accessible to the public shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete or a semi-permeable surface approved by the administrative official. The phrase "accessible to the public" means off-street parking and loading areas accessible to the public or customers and/or off-street parking and loading areas outside of or unsecured by fencing. Additionally, these paving standards shall apply to the following:

a.

Areas in a side or rear yard that are used for the parking and storage of large equipment which could damage the parking surface.

(2)

Parking and loading area not accessible to the public. Such areas shall be allowed to be covered with gravel. Where access by a fire apparatus vehicle is necessary such surfaces shall meet the requirements of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume 1, Appendix D, Section D102 or the appropriate amended provision. The phrase "accessible to the public" means off-street parking and loading areas accessible to the public or customers and/or off-street parking and loading areas outside of or unsecured by fencing.

(b)

Driveway aprons. Driveway aprons shall be required to meet the paving and design standards of the Gravette Street Standards and Specifications.

(c)

Barriers. Off-street parking lots shall be designed in a manner to not permit a car to drive off any part of the lot except through a driveway. This may be accomplished by wheel stops, curbing, or such material as approved by planning.

(d)

Striping and marking. Off-street parking lot spaces shall be striped to indicate the location of the individual spaces, directional arrows shall be provided at the entrance of aisles and entry drives, and accessible spaces shall be marked meeting current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Such striping and marking shall be in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

(e)

Maneuvering and street access. Off-street parking areas and spaces shall not be arranged to require a vehicle to back into a public street or traverse over a sidewalk. This requirement shall not apply to one- and two-family uses where only one structure is placed on one lot; however, it is preferred that the arrangement not require vehicles to back into a public street or traverse over a sidewalk.

(f)

Pedestrian access. Pedestrian access shall be provided from the street to the entrance of the structure by way of designated pathway or sidewalk.

(g)

Location. Off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot as the use which it services, be subject to a shared parking agreement, or be located on an adjacent lot with a filed use agreement that ties the parking to the use allows the property on which the use is located to have access and the ability to maintain the off-street parking lot. Such agreements shall be filed with the Benton County, Arkansas, Circuit Clerk.

(h)

Dimensional requirements. Off-street parking spaces shall conform to the following dimensional requirements:

4.

Off-street loading and unloading requirements.

(a)

The following rules and regulations shall apply to off-street loading and unloading facilities:

(1)

Loading shall occur solely within the subject property. Loading shall not occur in rights-of-way.

(2)

Loading space size:

a.

A required off-street loading space shall be at least ten feet in width by 25 feet in length, exclusive of aisle and maneuvering space, and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet.

b.

Where trailer trucks are involved, such loading and unloading space shall be an area 12 feet in width by 45 feet in length and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet. The space shall be designed with appropriate means of truck access to a street or alley, as well as having adequate maneuvering area.

c.

Off-street loading spaces may be located either within a building or in the parking lot area.

5.

Shared parking.

(a)

Shared parking agreements may be allowed in meeting any non-residential off-street parking requirements. Such agreements shall be filed with the Benton County, Arkansas, Circuit Clerk, provide for the maintenance of the lot, provide for the joint use of the off-street parking lot for the lifespan of the uses or buildings regardless of owner, successor, or heir.

(Ord. No. 24-20, § I, 11-19-2024)