BELLA VISTA — The City Council approved regulating accessory buildings, establishing a court department and levying a tax for an Advertising and Promotion Commission on Monday.
The accessory building proposal was approved with an emergency clause, making it effective immediately. Under the change, accessory structures are restricted to 40 percent of the size of the primary structure’s main floor, or 50 percent if the building is on an adjoining lot, with a maximum of 720 square feet. Additionally, the building may not stand any taller than the primary structure.
Alderman John Flynn said he had a letter from a resident expressing concern should the city fail to regulate accessory buildings more large structures could be built and damage to the city’s natural beauty.
“The prediction that we were going to hurt the beauty of Bella Vista has certainly come true,” Flynn said.
The city also did a third reading on and passed a tax to establish an Advertising and Promotion Commission effective Sept. 1. The commission will be supported by a 1 percent sales tax on prepared food and a 2 percent tax on lodging services.
Bella Vista staff attorney Jason Kelley stated the commission would operate independent of the city.
Alderman Doug Fowler said despite some initial concerns he believes this is in the city’s best interests.
“I’m kind of convinced that this could be managed efficiently and economically,” he said. “And the majority of funds that come in can be used for the promotion of Bella Vista.”
Tourism, he said, can bring revenue and attract businesses to the city, which means more revenue for the city.
Mayor Peter Christie clarified while promotion may bring money to the city by drawing tourism, the tax collected isn’t going into general revenue for the city. The money, he said, will strictly be used by the commission.
Additionally, the council established a Bella Vista Court Department and enter into a three-year lease for a space at 612 W. Lancashire Blvd. for the court. An emergency clause was added to make it effective immediately.
Christie said it was is a cost-free step the city needs to take so it can begin working toward getting its department of the Benton County District Court operational.
Flynn said it could save the city money compared to the increasing cost of using the court facility in Bentonville.
“We do expect that this will be a good situation financially,” he said.
The council also approved state money to help resurface Cedar Crest Drive, as well as buying tablet computers for the city’s ambulances.