Task force examines Bella Vista business, leisure opportunities

A Bella Vista Task Force has been formed to examine the commercial needs of Bella Vista and how to promote it as a leisure destination.

The Small Business Council of the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce formed the task force earlier this month, and it has met twice so far. The members, who all live in Bella Vista, are business owners or represent organizations with ties to the city.

Bella Vista Task Force members

Ashley Linden, Linden’s Custom Jewelry and Repair; Gary Halstead, Comfort Keepers; Tracey Lynn Cox, One Courageous Life; Brent Leas, Arvest Bank; John Hutchinson, Hutchinson Realty; Matt Young, Cooper Elementary School; Shelly Haynes, Mercy Bella Vista; Tommy Bailey, Bella Vista Property Owners Association; Chris Suneson, city of Bella Vista; Bill Powell, retired; a representative from Cooper Communities; and Jayne Lowe, liaison from the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Task force’s focus

• Promote Bella Vista as a leisure destination to a greater extent by looking at golf, trails, lakes and a farmer’s market.

• Look at existing commercial areas, such as Town Center, Sugar Creek Center, Highlands Gate and the southern boundary by Walgreens on U.S. 71 and McNelly Road.

• Look at potential commercial areas, such as Arkansas-Missouri line, Oldham area, Old Bella Vista, Arkansas 279 corridor, the western end of Arkansas 340 near the proposed Gravette elementary school and Lake Bella Vista. Identifying new potentials, such as if there is any retail potential with the new Mercy Clinic; what retail possibilities will trails create; if there are retail opportunities in conjunction with the Bella Vista Bypass and I-49; and if there are areas that provide true redevelopment opportunities.

The task force will provide a focus to look at better ways to market Bella Vista as a retiree and recreation location as well as look at potential commercial opportunities, including areas not along U.S. 71, said Dana Davis, chief executive officer and president of the chamber. The group also will look at business development opportunities in the area of the Bella Vista Bypass on Arkansas 279 and retail opportunities as a result of a potential trail plan for the city, he added.

"Bella Vista has unique challenges and enormous interest exists, but it also has some restrictions in place and that's one of the challenges (in business development)," Davis said.

"Specifically, the task force will look at existing areas that are ripe for redevelopment," Davis said of outdated or vacant commercial space.

Jayne Lowe, the chamber's vice president of business retention and expansion and liaison to the task force, said the task force is also discussing what property Cooper Communities owns and the opportunity to work with the company.

Lowe also encouraged task force members to look at the governing documents of the Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association so they know what's in them. The documents are available online at www.bellavistapoa.com/board/governingdocuments.asp.

Lowe said the task force is all inclusive with the community. That's why it involves not only business people but the POA, medical, school, the city and Cooper Communities.

"We want input from all sectors of the community," she said.

Davis said the task force is a long-term proposition.

"We're not sure how long it will take," Davis said.

"We think this is an opportunity for the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber to take advantage of its ability to create more jobs and opportunities in Bella Vista," Davis said. "That's important to us."

Gary Halstead, co-owner of Comfort Keepers, agreed with Davis that the task force's work is a long-term process that won't be accomplished in a year.

He likes that the POA and Cooper Communities as well as the city of Bella Vista are involved with the task force because it will help the group know what property is available and how the rules and regulations apply to develop businesses.

"The community has needs, such as hotels, restaurants and more retail, but is limited by land availability," Halstead said.

Ashley Linden, a task force member and owner of Linden's Custom Jewelry and Repair, liked that the focus of the task force is on economic development in Bella Vista.

She hopes the group can make a difference and improve the business climate in the community so that the city is known for being business friendly.

She feels the task force is going well.

"Everyone is in agreement on the direction we're going," she said.

The availability of quality space and land to rent or lease for restaurants or retail is one factor to take into consideration, and it is a challenge in Bella Vista, Davis said. There are existing facilities, but some have restrictions.

In addition, demographics play a key role in getting businesses to come into town, he said.

"National retail or restaurants look at demographics," Davis said. As an example, he cited that there is lots of land on Arkansas 279 but he questioned if there is sufficient traffic or homes in the area to support incoming businesses.

There are opportunities with the bypass coming near Arkansas 279, he added.

"We need to get ahead of the curve and identify those opportunities," he said.

As the task force develops concrete ideas, there will be an opportunity for public input, he said.

Halstead pointed out the broad spectrum of people serving on the task force.

"Everyone wants to do everything they can do to promote Bella Vista," he said. "We are a different community than we were 30 years ago."

The group also is looking at what rule changes are needed to bring people to the community, he added.

"We have to do it together to be successful," Halstead said. "We don't want to be a bedroom community. We want to take pride in where we eat, live and work."

Halstead also was glad to see the chamber become more involved in Bella Vista.

"We have to do something," he said. "We had at least seven businesses go out of businesses last year.

"If we're doing our job right, we'll succeed," Halstead said.

General News on 07/23/2014