BELLA VISTA — The rezoning of four new parcels in the city limits will move to the City Council later this month for final approval.

Four parcels were OK'd by the county to be added to the city April 4, following a 30-day appeal period allowed after the granting of a voluntary annexation petition filed by landowners.

One 20-acre parcel, owned by Village Baptist Church, is southeast of the intersection of Rogers Road and Forest Hills Boulevard. The other three parcels -- a 32-acre and a 9-acre plot owned by Freda Perry and a 5-acre plot owned by Floyd Perry -- are adjacent to the church's property to the south, following along the east side of Arkansas 279.

The commission voted to recommend the largest parcel, owned by the church, be designated C-2 light commercial because of its proximity to a major road and similar zoning surrounding it. The next parcel to the south, 32 acres, should be assigned the same. Both parcels are currently vacant.

A classification of C-2 allows for light office such as a medical office, and other uses such as a church with a conditional use permit. Automobile and big box establishments are excluded from this zoning district.

The group designated the other two areas R-E residential, because of the residential character of the property and existing structures on the land. The two parcels owned by Freda Perry are for sale.

No landowners were present at the meeting.

This is a city-initiated rezone because it is the initial zoning of the property by the city, Planning Director Chris Suneson said. The decision will go before the council at its regular meeting April 28.

Planners also approved an unrelated lot-split in the same vicinity on Forest Hills Boulevard. Cooper Communities, the owner of the parcel in question just north of the existing church, wishes to subdivide the 4.68 acre plot into two tracts, and transfer ownership of the parcel immediately adjacent to the church property to the church.

Cooper representative Gene Grosclose said this is a donation, and will accommodate the church's desire to move its driveway in order to move forward with an expansion project.

John Lear of the church said this will also fix a safety hazard by allowing the church to create a better sight line for traffic into its facility.

Following Planning Commission approval, the project must go before the City Council for rights of way acceptance.

NW News on 04/15/2014