Commissioners Approve Church Plans

BELLA VISTA -- The expansion of one church and the construction of another can begin, after Planning Commissioners approved large-scale plans Monday night.

Bella Vista Lutheran Church at 1990 Forest Hills Blvd. plans to expand its facility in a three-phase project. A parking lot will first be constructed in front of the existing church, followed by a 6,700-square-foot classroom wing added to the rear of the existing building and finally an interior renovation of the existing structure.

The group approved the project unanimously.

The Village Bible Evangelical Free Church also got the go-ahead to construct a new facility on land the church already owns at 1591 Forest Hills Blvd., at its intersection with Buckston Drive.

Commissioners had no objections to the 17,000-square-foot facility.

A split vote followed, however, on the conditional use permit for a wireless communications tower on the same land owned by Village Bible.

After two members of the public spoke against the construction, commission chairman Daniel Ellis and member Theresa Neal voted against the permit, which was approved 5-2.

The 195-foot monopole tower is set to be constructed on the southwest corner of the land, behind the future city fire station, according to plans. The land will be leased from the church.

Dave Reynolds of Smith Communications said there is already heavy tree growth in that area, and more landscaping will be done to help hide the base of the tower. There will be no lighting on the tower. Verizon Wireless is already signed on as an anchor tenant to provide service to the west side of Bella Vista, and Reynolds said the tower is available for other companies as well.

NW News on 07/15/2014

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