Planning Commission approves development

The planning commission voted unanimously to issue approval, pending a few staff comments, for a 9,391-square-foot building off Sunset Drive.

The development, an office for Hull Dermatology, will sit on a 4.41-acre parcel in the triangle between U.S. Highway 71 and Sunset Drive and include 48 parking spaces.

Chris Suneson, director of the Community Development Services department, said the board of zoning adjustments granted a variance for this development’s setbacks.

Suneson said there are a handful of staff comments that he’d like to see addressed before issuing a permit but nothing serious.

“These consist of minor site and grading issues, and we are asking that those be addressed before the permit is issued,” he said.

The development, he said, will be utilizing an underground storage system for stormwater flow and a retaining wall to help flatten a portion of the steep hill on which it will be built.

“We have a lot of unique (sites) in Bella Vista,” he said. “This one has the particular challenge of a lot of hillside.”

The plans, he said, have been looked at by the fire inspector and appear to be in compliance with fire code.

Dirk Thibodaux, representing Hull Dermatology, said the design of the building was made specifically to fit the lot’s unique topography.

“This site is quite an interesting site in that it doesn’t conform to the typical site layout,” he said, “so the building is also a little unique.”

The commission also approved a lot split on Holland Road.

Associate planner Sarah Bingham said this property, which is outside city limits but in the city’s planning area, falls under lowdensity residential in the city’s future land use map. Because the parcel is being split into two parcels large enough to function as R-1 residential properties, she said, this split shouldn’t create a problem.

There have been no unmet comments from utilities, she said, though Carroll Electric has requested a private easement to access a transformer pole.

City staff, she said, also suggested including an access easement.

Commissioner Chad Nall motioned to approve the lot split with the staff-suggested conditions, and the motion carried unanimously.

As the meeting closed, Suneson explained that there may be an open seat on the commission. Theresa Neal, he said, will not be seeking reappointment when her term ends at the end February. The position needs to be filled, he said, though the mayor currently has someone in mind for the position.