BELLA VISTA -- The City Council on Monday approved a zoning request for 1680 Forest Hills Blvd.
The decision to rezone the 2.54-acres from residential single family to light commercial, followed a lengthy public-input session.
"I've lived (in Bella Vista) for 17 years, and I'm not opposed to bringing in new business," said Mike Modisett, who lives near the land. "But we need to make sure we're taking into account the people who live here and changing what (the area) looks like to them."
Modisett said his home backs up to the parcel and he's concerned about light and noise pollution as a consequence of commercial development.
"First we rezone (the parcel) and then later figure out what it's going to be used for," he said. "That makes neighbors very nervous."
A light commercial classification allows for a range of businesses including a movie theater, car wash, drive-in restaurant or general office space, according to the city's zoning district regulations.
However, Alderman John Flynn countered Modisett's complaint with the notion the land was an obvious choice for commercial development.
"I've driven down the street several times...but the fact is that this is the logical place for commercial (development) in Bella Vista, here and on Bella Vista Way," Flynn said. "Either we're not going to have any commercial (development) or we'll have to disappoint people once in a while. And I hate to do that, but anywhere in Bella Vista that we have commercial (development) there's always going to be a house a block away."
Rod Dennett of Bentonville owns the land, which he bought from Cooper Communities in 2003. It originally was zoned heavy commercial, but designated residential single family when Bella Vista incorporated in 2007. The parcel is adjacent to Highlander Plaza, which includes a beauty salon, chiropractor and restaurants.
Because of the parcel's consistency with adjoining commercial uses, the Planning Commission in November recommended approving the zoning request.
This is the second time in three months that the council has approved a zoning request for property on Forest Hill Boulevard. The council voted 4-3 in November to approve a rezoning from neighborhood commercial to light commercial for a 2.41-acres at 1265 Forest Hills Blvd.
NW News on 01/27/2015