Bella Vista agrees to city plan development

BELLA VISTA -- The City Council authorized an agreement with Gould Evans to develop a plan to guide the city during its Monday meeting.

Gould Evans was selected out of eight firms sending in a proposal and was chosen by a city committee, Mayor Peter Christie said, to generate a plan to guide the city toward 2040.

"Ours is 10 years out of date," he said.

Dennis Strait of Gould Evans said the plan would focus on building value and fostering investment in the city. He said the planning process will take 12 to 13 months to complete and offer opportunities for public input.

Alderman Linda Lloyd, who was on the selection committee, said she was in favor of hiring the firm.

"I think the comprehensive plan is something that is sorely needed in this community," she said. "It's not something that can be done in-house."

Alderman Brian Bahr said Bella Vista is in the middle of change and growth. The median age, he said, is decreasing, and he doesn't believe growth is going to slow. Having this plan, he said, could guide developers interested in working in the city.

Alderman James Wozniak, however, had reservations. He voted against the agreement.

"I just don't think at this point we have the money," he said.

Bella Vista, he said, lacks space for commercial development the plan would be geared toward generating.

The City Council also also approved a purchase price for a portion of Centerton's water system Monday.

The city has been talking with Centerton about buying a section of its water line, primarily around Arkansas 279.

The council approved a $243,855 price for the section.

"This is not a guarantee that we are going to buy it," Christie said. "This is letting us go into the next step."

There's a great deal more that needs to happen, he said, before the city can proceed, including hearings.

Larry Wilms, former head of the Property Owner's Association Water Department, has worked with the city as a water consultant and provided assistance for this process.

The value, he said, needs to be approved by the lender, but he believes it's a fair value.

"It started out as a value from the original when it was installed, discounted because of age," he said.

NW News on 03/28/2017

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