Mobiliteitsplan Tholen 2022-2030 – Parking Standards and Regulations
The Mobiliteitsplan Tholen 2022-2030 is a statutory planning document issued by the Gemeente Tholen in the Netherlands. Adopted by the municipal council on October 13, 2022, and effective from July 27, 2023, this plan establishes the legal framework for parking requirements in spatial developments. It replaces previous parking provisions from the municipal building ordinance and is integrated into the overarching paraplulubestemmingsplan (umbrella zoning plan). The document serves as the primary instrument for assessing building permit applications regarding the adequacy of parking facilities for new construction or functional changes.
The regulatory scope of this plan covers all building types, categorized into residential, commercial, retail, leisure, healthcare, and education sectors. It utilizes CROW Publication 381 (Toekomstbestendig parkeren) as its technical foundation, adapted to the specific urban density and car ownership levels of the Tholen municipality. The document defines specific geographic zones—Centrum Tholen, Rest bebouwde kom (rest of built-up area), and Buitengebied (outside area)—each with distinct parking ratios. It also outlines structural requirements for parking on private property, including specific dimensions for driveways and garages to be counted toward the required capacity.
Professional users can find detailed tables for parking norms, presence percentages for dual-use calculations, and acceptable walking distances from parking facilities to destinations. The plan also details the financial and administrative procedures for exemptions, including the conditions under which a financial contribution to the municipal parking fund may be accepted.
Geographic Zoning and Urban Density
Parking standards in Tholen are differentiated based on urban density and local accessibility. The municipality applies three distinct zones for parking ratios:
- Centrum Tholen: The core urban area where lower car ownership and higher accessibility allow for reduced parking norms.
- Rest: The remaining residential and commercial areas within the built-up limits of various village cores like Sint-Maartensdijk and Sint-Annaland.
- Buitengebied: The rural outlying areas where car dependence is highest, resulting in the maximum required parking ratios.
Residential and Commercial Parking Norms
The document provides specific parking ratios per unit or per 100 m² of gross floor area (bruto vloeroppervlakte or bvo). These norms include a designated share for visitors.
- Residential (Wonen): Ratios range from 0.2 for student rooms to 2.4 for large detached houses in the outer area. Tiny houses (small single-person dwellings) carry a norm of 0.6 to 0.7.
- Commercial (Werken): Offices without a counter function require 2.0 to 2.5 spaces per 100 m² bvo, while commercial services with counters require up to 3.5.
- Retail (Winkels): Full-service supermarkets are assigned a norm of 6.1 in non-central areas, with an 85% visitor share.
Parking on Private Property (Parkeren op eigen terrein)
To prevent parking overflow in public spaces, developers must prioritize solutions on private land. The plan defines how specific facilities are calculated toward the total requirement:
- Single driveway (without garage): Counts as 0.8 spaces if the driveway is at least 5.0 meters deep.
- Garage with single driveway: Counts as 1.0 space, provided the driveway is ≥ 5.0m deep and ≥ 3.0m wide.
- Double driveway: Counts as 1.7 spaces if the driveway is at least 4.5 meters deep.
- Disabled Parking: At least 5% of general parking spaces must be designated for disabled users, located within a maximum walking distance of 100 meters.
Dual Use and Walking Distances
The plan allows for the shared use of parking spaces between different functions that have peak demands at different times (e.g., offices during the day and residents at night).
- Presence Percentages: Residential occupancy is counted at 100% during the night, while offices are at 0%. On Saturday afternoons, retail is at 100% while offices are at 0%.
- Walking Distance (Loopafstand): The maximum acceptable walking distance for a resident's first car is 100 meters. For work functions, this increases to 800 meters, and for retail in the center, it varies between 100 and 600 meters.
Exemptions and Financial Contributions
If parking cannot be realized on-site due to physical or financial constraints, the municipality may grant an exemption under specific conditions:
- Small Extensions: If a functional change results in an additional demand of fewer than 3 spaces, the municipality may grant a waiver (excluding residential functions).
- Financial Buy-out (Afkoopsom): A contribution to the mobility fund of €15,000 per space may be required for facilities in built structures, or €3,000 for surface-level spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dimensions for a standard parking bay in Tholen?
According to ASVV 2021 guidelines referenced in the plan, a standard perpendicular bay (haaks parkeervak) must be at least 2.50 by 5.00 meters, while parallel parking (langsparkeren) requires 6.00 by 2.00 meters.
How is the parking norm calculated for a Tiny House?
A tiny house, defined as a small one-person dwelling, has a parking norm of 0.6 in the Tholen center and 0.7 in other areas, with a 0.3 visitor share included.
What is the minimum depth for a driveway to count as a parking space?
A single driveway without a garage must be at least 5.0 meters deep to count as 0.8 parking spaces. A double driveway must be at least 4.5 meters deep to count as 1.7 spaces.
Can I use public parking spaces for a new development?
The primary requirement is parking on private property. Using public space is only permitted if it is physically or financially impossible to build on-site and if the occupancy rate of public parking within the area remains below 85%.
What is the afkoopsom for a single parking space in Tholen?
The financial contribution for a parking space in a built structure is €15,000, while a surface-level parking space (maaiveldplaats) is set at €3,000.
How many disabled parking spaces are required for a project?
A minimum of 5% of the total general parking spaces must be designated as general disabled parking spaces (GPP).
What is the maximum walking distance for visitor parking?
For residents' visitors, the maximum acceptable walking distance from the parking facility to the destination is 400 meters.
How are parking requirements calculated for primary schools?
The norm consists of two components: a staff norm per classroom and a specific calculation for 'kiss and ride' traffic based on pupil numbers, urban density, and average distance to school.
