How to Plan Your Parking Lot Layout

If you own a large business or shopping center, a pristine parking lot should be near the top of your priority list. You may think a customer's first impression comes when they step foot in your store, but their opinion starts to develop from the moment they turn into your parking lot.

If your parking lot is small, crowded, and ridden with cracks and potholes, it could be turning customers away before they even make it to your store. On the other hand, a freshly-paved parking lot with plenty of space and available spots has the opposite affect. We have already discussed what attracts people to a parking lot, and if you are planning on repaving yours, you will need to a plan.

Step One: Determine how much space you have to work with.

The first step in laying out your parking lot is determining how much space is available. If you are simply repaving your lot, you should already know this information, but if you are purchasing a new property, you might have some room to work with. After you have calculated your total square footage available for paving, you can move on to the next step.

Step Two: Determine a layout.

Your parking lot layout will be contingent on local zoning regulations as well as the size and location of the store relative to your property. Always check to make sure you aren't violating any town laws when planning commercial projects. Once everything is squared away from a legal standpoint, you will design your parking lot around your store. If the store is centered on the piece of land, you could designate parking all around the building, whereas if it is on an edge, you have to put everything in front of it, which would lead to longer walks for your customers.

Step Three: Plan your parking spaces.

The last step is to plot out your parking spaces. Ideally, you should be able to provide enough spaces to accommodate more customers than you will ever have at your store at one time, but there could be space limitations. If you are tight for room, arranging your parking spots correctly could help you maximize the space you do have.

According to this report from Planning.org, there are four main ways to lay out your parking spots:

It is recommended to designate about 300 square feet of space per car; a 9'x18' space for the car to park and the remaining ~140 square feet of space should be factored into aisles, landscaping, entrances, and exits. Cars are seven feet wide, so a space that is nine feet wide provides enough room to comfortably park. If you try to save space by making your spots narrower, it will encourage customers to park over the divider, taking up two spots and costing you room instead of saving it.

Do you need an extra hand in designing and paving your new parking lot? Call the experts at Roccie's Asphalt! Connecticut and New York business owners and property managers have trusted us with their commercial paving projects for 60 years. Call us for a free quote today at 888-88-ROCCIES.