BELLA VISTA -- After a motion was denied to return the rezoning of a parcel of land on Forest Hills Boulevard to the Planning Commission, the Bella Vista City Council heard on first reading Monday a request to rezone the property to C-2, light commercial, from C-1, neighborhood commercial.
Alderman Jerry Snow moved that the rezoning be returned on 2.41 acres at 1265 Forest Hills Boulevard for a more definitive recommendation from the commission and to allow area residents to comment further to planners.
The council then deadlocked on a 3-3 vote. Mayor Frank Anderson chose not to vote and the motion was denied.
Anderson pointed out that the council would ultimately decide the rezoning issue. Alderman Dick Rooney said he didn't think the matter should go back to the Planning Commission because the council will have to decide the issue anyway.
At its September meeting, the Planning Commission also had a tie vote, 3-3, on its recommendation to the council. A tie vote is a recommendation to deny the rezoning.
At the Planning Commission meeting, residents in the immediate area cited concerns over increased traffic and driving hazards, as well as noise pollution, as reasons against rezoning.
Andrea Conway, who lives in the Quantock Hills subdivision near the land in question, was present at both meetings and spoke against rezoning again on Monday night.
"I came here with a lot of neighborhood support," Conway said. "We're concerned about the nearby blind curve, as well as noise pollution, which could all be affected by a bustling new development."
In other business, the city agreed to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the Bella Vista Townhouse Association to remedy long-term storm water runoff problems in the vicinity of Dogwood Drive.
The council also approved a contract with NEC Inc. of Rogers to construct drainage improvements along Dogwood Drive and nearby Annette and Tiffany lanes. The bid was one of six submitted to the city.
The contract with NEC is for $193,559 with the city paying 57.75 percent of the project cost and the Townhouse Association picking up the rest.
Anderson noted the engineer's estimate -- which was around $145,000 -- was significantly below the awarded bid.
"Our highest bid was $425,000," he said. "And four more came in that weren't lower than our original estimate. But this is a problem that needs to be fixed ..."
General News on 09/23/2014