The City Council extensively discussed the rezoning of a parcel of land on Forest Hills Boulevard during its work session Monday night at City Hall.
The owners of the property at 1265 Forest Hills Blvd. are requesting a change to C-2, light commercial, from C-1, neighborhood commercial. The council is expected to have the first of three readings on the rezoning at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Bella Vista Community Television station at Highlands Crossing Center.
Last week, the Planning Commission recommended the council deny the zoning change after voting 3-3 on the issue. In the case of a tie vote, the commission's policy calls for a denial of the rezoning request.
The council could vote to affirm the commission's recommendation, to overturn it or to return the issue to the commission for further review, Chris Suneson, planning director, said following last week's commission meeting.
City planner Jennifer Bonner discussed the commercial property with the aldermen, explaining there is a commercial strip adjacent to the site under consideration and a 1-acre property across the street. All three properties are designated C-1.
The surrounding area, however, is all residential, she said. The future-land-use plan calls for light residential in the area, except for the commercial property that is already there.
In addition, there is a tight S-curve on Forest Hills Boulevard in front of the property that impedes the line of sight of vehicles on the road, she said.
Jason Kelley, city attorney, also cautioned the council not to look at specific uses for the property under a C-2 zoning after Alderwoman Becky Morgan asked about the possibility of a rumored drive-in restaurant and car wash going into the location.
"We need to develop as much commercial property as we can on Forest Hills," Morgan said.
Alderman Dick Rooney said the council needs to look again at the zoning because the city needs more commercial development.
Suneson pointed out that residential, particularly multifamily housing, is allowed under C-1 and C-2 designations. Also, anyone wanting to develop the property would be required to do a traffic impact study on Forest Hills Boulevard, which is also designated Arkansas 279.
He also said the council typically waives the three readings of the ordinance to accelerate the process for the landowners.
Mayor Frank Anderson said the council may be asked to allow him to enter into an agreement with a contractor for drainage work along Dogwood Drive, Annette Lane and Tiffany Lane. Bids are expected to be opened today.
He said the area has had flooding problems in the past. The work will be able to handle 15-year flood occurrences but not 100-year flood situations. The work would be done in cooperation with the Bella Vista Townhouse Association.
General News on 09/17/2014