Planning Commission considers lot splits

The Planning Commission got together for a work session Thursday, March 30, and discussed filling two seats, a property-line adjustment on Huskins Lane, a lot split near Punkin Hollow Road, a minor subdivision on East McNelly Road and a development on Jack Crabtree Road.

The two empty seats were filled by re-appointee Shawki Al-Madhoun and newcomer Chad Nall.

Nall has a military background, he said. He served in the Navy in the 1990s, he said, and currently serves as a captain in the Army National Guard.

He has a master’s degree in management leadership, he said.

He’s lived in Bella Vista for roughly 11 years and he’s a father of two.

“I’m here for everybody,” he said.

Commissioners looked at the property-line adjustment on Huskins Lane to resolve an issue with two homes’ septic systems. The homes, at 2 and 4 Huskins Circle, had their septic systems on the respective lots, senior planner Jennifer Bonner said, but they were replaced in the 1990s and ended up sharing an empty lot.

Two septic systems on one lot, Bonner said, is an issue with the Arkansas Department of Health.

“We are looking at doing a property-line adjustment so each has control of their own septic,” she said.

The difficulty, she said, is that lots cannot be created or destroyed.

The solution, she said, is to join one lot with the lot the systems are on, and split the portion with the other home’s septic system off of that lot. In this case, she said, the number of lots will remain the same.

Chairman Daniel Ellis said it is important that these lots remain attached, so no one can buy the house without buying the septic system.

Bonner said the commission could place conditions, like requiring that the tract of land be attached, on its approval.

With that approval, she said, this could move forward, pending approval from the Property Owners Association, the Architectural Control Committee, Cooper Communities, and the City Council.

The next item up for discussion was a lot split at the intersection of Punkin Hollow Road and Miller Church Road. The request would see the 80-acre parcel split into five smaller plots, which will all have street frontage.

Bonner said that, while this property is outside the city limits, it falls into Bella Vista’s planning area and, as such, is subject to city ordinances.

Following this, the commission looked at establishment of a minor subdivision alongside East McNelly Road. The 69.5acre parcel will be split into five smaller parcels to go to the McNelly Estate’s heirs.

“There are no outstanding staff comments on this one, they’ve addressed all our issues,” Bonner said.

Last, the commission discussed a large-scale development alongside Jack Crabtree Road.

David Raines of Raines Tree Care applied to build a warehouse on the threeacre parcel to store machinery and material for his business. He also requested to waive the requirement for a drainage report.

This property is not in the city limits, but is in its planning area, associate planner Sarah Bingham said.

No traffic study was done, she said, but because the warehouse is primarily a storage structure the increase in traffic is expected to be minimal.

The proposal, she said, has given 50 feet of right of way and will include a gravel driveway.

Ellis asked if pavement was required along the edge of the road to avoid dragging gravel onto the road.

Chris Suneson, director of Community Development Services, said that while it was not legally required, the commission could place such a condition on its approval.

Ellis said that, with a concrete apron roughly 20 feet long, gravel in the road could be prevented.

Raines said that he was surprised it came up this late in the process, but he believes that it can be done without a great deal of trouble.

Ellis added that he’s in favor of accepting the waiver for a drainage report.

“I don’t see a big drainage issue there that would require a drainage analysis,” he said.