Although some of the questions were familiar to both Property Owners Association General Manager Tom Judson and Bella Vista Mayor Peter Christie, to the audience it was valuable information.
The leaders of the the city and the POA were in Riordan Hall on Saturday morning to meet with Bella Vista's newest residents.
The Newcomers Coffee on Saturday was the first of a series planned quarterly to give new residents a chance to learn more about Bella Vista. It was organized by Debbie Sorensen, a member of the Recreation Committee. With 30 new residents in attendance, she was thrilled with the turnout.
Christie said Bella Vista is growing and pointed to the new development near the Country Club. But the city is still looking for more commercial development. He said credit card data reveals that Bella Vista residents spend millions at restaurants outside the city.
One way to change that, Christie said, is for the city to purchase a portion of the Centerton rural water system which serves some areas of western Bella Vista, including an area between Bella Vista's boundary and the new bypass. If the city controls the water, it would encourage new business to seek annexation into Bella Vista.
Christie added that he doesn't want to compete with the POA-controlled Bella Vista water system. The two systems would serve separate areas.
The city, the POA and Cooper Communities, the developer of Bella Vista, all get along, both Christie and Judson said. They work together on several projects, including the trail system.
A handout summarized the areas each entity manages. The city is responsible for police, fire, emergency medical, roads, trash removal, the library, city planning and code enforcement.
The POA runs the amenities including golf courses, pools, tennis courts, parks and lakes, fitness facilities and meeting rooms. The POA also manages the water system, but that is kept separate from the amenities, Judson said.
The Architecture Control Committee is a separate entity that works with Cooper Communities. The ACC ensures compliance with the protective covenants as they pertain to residential and commercial construction, remodeling and landscaping for all property platted as part of the POA.
When a newcomer asked about permits for renovations, Christie's advice was to always start with the city planning office. Some work may also require a permit from the ACC, but the staff at the city office knows which projects need additional permitting and which projects don't. The offices for city planning and the ACC are next to each other in the Village Center Shopping Center on Lancashire Boulevard, he said.
Judson answered a question about assessments and fees for amenities and photo IDs. In spite of the monthly assessment, most amenities also require a usage fee. The $24 monthly assessment has not been increased since 2001.
He explained that although the vote was close, the last proposal for an assessment increase was turned down. There will be another proposal at some point, he said, but he doesn't know when. He believes once members see the improvements his staff is making, they'll be more likely to approve an increase.
There was also information available on the clubs and activities in Bella Vista.
The next Newcomers Coffee is planned for early June.
General News on 03/08/2017