Bella Vista planners pass Subdivision Ordinance
Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
BELLA VISTA - The city's Planning Commission unanimously passed a Subdivision Ordinance, with a few modifications, at the commission's meeting Monday. The 104-page document will now go to the City Council for a vote.
Only four residents attended the meeting, and two addressed the commission.
Larry Wilms had 29 modifications and comments for the Bella Vista Planning Commission and spoke for more than 20 minutes. Several of his proposed changes were adopted by the commission, while others had already been addressed and modifications made. He was asked to submit his comments in writing.
The majority of the changes were in wording, such as changing the definition of street types to match the Master Street Plan.
Larry Kelly, a local developer and real-estate broker who had addressed the Planning Commission during one of its citizen-input meetings last week, spoke against the ordinance.
"I don't like it any better," he said. "It's tremendously restrictive. It looks more like Bentonville and Centerton than Bella Vista."
He was referring to the requirement that new subdivision developments have curbing, underground utilities and underground water drainage, if the topography allows.
Kelly said the curb-andgutter requirement does not match the natural setting and affordability currently enjoyed in Bella Vista.
"We discussed this at great length," Chairwoman Debra Lewis said about the curb-and-gutter requirements. "What was done 40 years ago is not what we want."
A discussion of the distance between fire hydrants took place; the ordinance specified 1,000 feet. Fire Chief Steve Sims had addressed the commission Friday, asking that the distance be changed to 500 feet. The cost would be paid by the developer.
Commission member Chris Suneson made a motion to change the requirement to 500 feet, but it was defeated, 3-2. Suneson and Vice Chairman Don Robinson voted for the change; Secretary Gail Klesen and members George Zeiler and John McBee voted against it. Member Chuck Mushett was absent.
It was noted that Sims could address the City Council with documentation of the current fire standards to argue for the shorter distance between hydrants.
The subdivision regulations govern the subdividing and developing of land within the corporate limits and the Planning Area boundary for Bella Vista.
The Planning Area includes the city and a fluctuating five-mile zone around the city. The zone changes in relationship to the planning areas of other cities around Bella Vista.
The Planning Area Map is available for viewing at City Hall at Town Center. The map was adopted by the City Council in August, after the map's creation by the Planning Commission.
The proposed ordinance does not include zoning plans within city limits; the Planning Commission will address zoning in separate citizen-input meetings at a date and time to be announced.
The next meeting for the Planning Commission will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Riordan Hall. Two work sessions are planned for 3 p.m. Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 in the Fire Department Training Room.
The next meeting for the Bella Vista City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the Bella Vista Community TV studio at the Highlands Crossing Community Center.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
