BELLA VISTA -- The City Council on Monday likely will vote on two proposed annexations.
Mayor Peter Christie at an Aug. 17 work session told aldermen he'll request the annexations be advanced to their third readings. The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 1889 Bella Vista Way.
One annexations involves a cluster of vacant parcels on the west side of Chelsea Road near Plymouth Circle and Leona Drive. The property, commonly referred to as the Hole in the Wall Cave area, is surrounded by Gravette and Bella Vista.
State law allows cities to annex unincorporated land that has become surrounded by municipalities, said Jason Kelley, staff attorney. Because Bella Vista has the larger amount of perimeter around the parcels, the city can annex the land by ordinance, Kelley said.
The property already has a recommended zoning designation. The Planning Commission on Aug. 10 recommended a mix of residential single-family and open-space zoning.
The parcels under consideration are owned by a number of people, the Property Owners Association and Cooper Communities. Some are ready to be developed for residential use, said Chris Suneson, director of the Community Development Services Department.
The other proposed annexation, which is voluntary, encompasses roughly 30 acres along Dartmoor Road just south of Manchester Drive. Wonderland Cave Holdings, which owns the property, requested annexation. The owners sought shopping-center zoning -- the highest commercial density zoning available under city code -- because they plan to develop a theme park on the property.
The Planning Commission on Aug. 10 voted 5-1 to deny the zoning request.
Mary Miller, one of two general managers for Wonder Land Cave Holdings, at the Aug. 10 meeting said she doesn't see the commission's decision as a setback.
"This is a learning experience," she said after the commission meeting. "(The project) is happening."
Property annexed into the city defaults to an agriculture designation unless it is assigned a different zoning district. If aldermen approve the annexation, the property will be incorporated as agriculture.
NW News on 08/22/2015