Bella Vista, Arkansas
Bella Vista is a census-designated
place located in Benton County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the
CDP had a total population of 16,582. It is currently the largest unincorporated
community in the state of Arkansas. The Bella Vista POA estimates that
there are currently 24,000 residents located in an area covering sixty
five square miles (36,326 acres) The village has two USPS zip codes.
On the east side 72714 and on the west side 72715.
First established in 1965, the community is located on U.S. Highway
71 between Bentonville, Arkansas and the Missouri state line.
Village amenities include
eight golf courses, eight lakes, three country clubs, five recreational
centers. The Bella Vista Property Owners Association charges propery
owners a monthly assessment for use of the village's facilities; $16
for a lot and $24 for a home.
Although originally primarily
an affluent retirement community, recent growth includes many young
couples and families. It is "governed" by its Property Owners
Association, a private organization that performs all the normal functions
of a local government.
Bella Vista amenities
Bella Vista village
lakes Located in the Ozark Mountains Bella Vista Village has eight lakes.
These lakes are not "public" in that only members of the village
or their guests are permitted to use them. Lake Ann, Lake Windsor, and
Lake Loch Lomond are the largest all sports lakes in the village. Lake
Avalon, Lake Norwood, and Lake Rayburn are primarily fishing lakes with
"no wake" restrictions. Current POA boat permits are required
as are Arkansas fishing licenses, when fishing Bella Vista lakes.
Lake Ann is an
all water sport lake with 112.5 acres of surface area. Because it is
53.5 feet deep with no power limit, water skiing is allowed on Lake
Ann. Lake Windsor is the second largest of our Lakes, covering 220 acres
with a maximum depth of 79.5 feet. Lake Windsor is also an unlimited
power lake. Skiing is allowed. Loch Lomond is the largest of all the
lakes in the Village. Eighty feet deep and covering 477 acres, this
crystal clear lake is perfect for every kind of water recreation. There
is no power limit, skiing is allowed, and boat rental is available.
Lake Avalon is a limited power lake that features an enclosed, heated
fishing dock located off of Tamworth Circle. This lake covers 67 acres
and is 50 feet deep. Lake Brittany is 77 feet deep, has a 35-acre surface
area and is a limited power lake. Although there is not a launching
ramp at this time, the terrain is suitable for launching. Lake Norwood
located just north of Bella Vista's Town Center, has 34.5 acres of surface
area and is 75 feet deep. The Lake Norwood launching ramp is located
north of Harp's Food Store in Town Center. This is a limited power lake.
Lake Rayburn is 60 feet deep and has a 47-acre surface area. This lake
has limited power regulations. It also features a designated swimming
area and a launching ramp that is accessible from Lakeside Drive. Lake
Bella Vista is located just off Hwy. 71. This lake is 22 acres and 8
feet deep.
Bella Vista golf
There are 9 private,
award winning golf courses in Bella Vista Village. Bella Vista POA Golf
website
The Bella Vista chapel
The Chapel was
created by renowned Arkansas architect Euine Fay Jones. In 1991, Fay
Jones was awarded the American Institute of Architecture's highest award,
the AIA Gold Metal. Fay was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright where he
was first introduced to the principle of Organic Architecture (designing
to fit the environment).
Built to honor Mildred
Borum Cooper, wife of John A. Cooper, Sr., Founder of Cooper Communities,
Inc, the Chapel is a fitting memorial. Her family commissioned the Chapel
in her honor to celebrate her life and her dedication to God and his
creations.
Parks and walking trails
Bella Vista Lake
walking trail is actually maintained by the City of Bentonville but
feels as if it were in the center of Bella Vista Village. It has a nice
walking/biking trail of 1.8 miles around it.
Tanyard Creek is a great walking trail off of Lake Windsor in the center
of the village. It has a footbridge and some great waterfalls except
during dry times like it has been in 2005-2006.
Bella Vista Country Club
Bella Vista Country
Clubhouse opened on November 25, 1968 and was a place for local residents
to meet one another, enjoy a meal and hold some great dances. Times
changed and more restaurants began to appear in the area. This led to
a decline in the use of the facility. The dances and dinners wound down
to a halt and eventually asbestos was found to be a problem in a segment
of floor tiles in the building. The POA closed the clubhouse on August
25, 2002.
Bella Vista Country Club is about to be remodeled and opened again.
It was once a very happening place and promises to be an attractive
clubhouse with some modern amenities and office space inside.
Geography
Bella Vista is
located at 36ø27'50" North, 94ø16'16" West (36.463850,
-94.270974)GR1.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 171.9 km sq
(66.4 mi sq). 169.9 km sq (65.6 mi sq) of it is land
and 2.0 km sq (0.8 mi sq) of it is water. The total area is
1.19% water.
Government
The Bella Vista
Village's Declarations and Protective Covenants is the "rule book"
that governs the village. The POA must follow this "rule book"
composed of various articles. There are Class A and Class B members
of Bella Vista Village. Class B refers to Cooper who gets 10 votes per
lot owned and Class A refers to lots owners who receive one vote per
lot owned. Cooper now owns too few lots to sway the vote. Both Class
A and class B members must approve a vote before it is binding.
The POA is governed
by a nine-member Board of Directors who serve three-year terms. They
set the direction and long-term objectives for the POA guided by the
village's declarations and protective covenants. The day-to-day activity
of the POA is directed by its general manager, with division heads and
site managers responsible for the various departments and facilities
throughout the village.
Bella Vista Fire Department
The Bella Vista
Fire Department logged 454 incidents in 2005. Total fire loss for 2005
in Bella Vista was pegged at $216,700 due to a $208,000 building fire
and an $8,700 vehicle fire.
Utility providers in Bella
Vista village
The POA provides
water and sanitation (trash pick-up) service to Bella Vista residents.
The monthly minimum water rate is currently based on 49 cents per day
for 30 days and 1,500 gallons of usage, or $14.70. The bills also are
subject to applicable sales tax and a 25-cent per month testing fee
charged by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Garbage pick-up
costs $11.30 plus tax per month for once a week streetside collection.
There also are two semi-annual pick ups of large items.
Carroll Electric Cooperative
provides electricity for Bella Vista residents.
SBC provides phone service
for Bella Vista residents.
Cox Communications provides
cable TV for Bella Vista residents.
Village Waste Water provides
sewer service to portions of Bella Vista.
Economy
Travel to Bella
Vista and the surrounding areas increases greatly in the summertime.
There are lots of vacation rental homes in the village as well as a
fishing, golfing and watersports economy that comes alive every year.
National Recreational
Properties is currently advertising in major cities Bella Vista's great
amenities and quality of life. Well kwown actor Erik Estrada is their
spokesman.
Education
There are two school
districts serving the village. On the east side the Bentonville School
District and on the west side Gravette School District.
Current issues
To incorporate or not?
Some residents
are unhappy with having a private government that isn't subject to the
same legal accountability that other local governments are, and there
are ongoing efforts to bring about the incorporation of the town. Petitions
requesting an incorporation vote have been approved by the County Judge
and the issue will be on the ballot in November 06, 2006.
Opposition to Incorporation
is starting to form in Bella Vista Village There are also current infrastructure
issues that Bella Vista is trying to cope with. Traffic is increasing
fast through the village. Google provides a map showing the two "disconnected"
pieces of the Interstate 540 (Arkansas) and the Interstate quality US
71 in Missouri.which when connected to the Missouri Hwy will eventually
be part of a long planned future Interstate 49. Some local refer to
this as a western bypass or bypass of the current Hwy 71 that runs through
Bella Vista, AR. Many, especially truckers, in Arkansas and Missouri
are desperate to see the highway fully connected and flowing due to
current traffic congestion.
On April 13, 2006 the AR
Highway Commission approved the use of Tolls to finance construction.
Growth in 2005
Bella Vista had
a 13% increase in building permits in 2005. The Architectural Control
Committee, a branch of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association issued
973 building permits last year, up 129 from the number issued in Bella
Vista during 2004. All but seven of those permits were for residential
construction projects. Growth was strongest on the east side of the
village with 510 building permits. 206 permits were issued for the central
part of the village while the Highlands received 250 permits. 966 residential
construction permits compares with just 306 permits issued in the village
in 2001. At the same time, the POA office has processed 8,585 title
transfers resulting from the sale of properties (improved and unimproved)
in the village compared to 2,680 such transfers in 2004.
Growth in 2006
Lowe's Hardware
store is now open just to the south of Bella Vista. Traffic has sometimes
been affected during the construction of the area. Bulldozers and backhoes
are currently working on the top of the hill to the northeast of Lowe's
as well. Northwest Arkansas Gazette Article on the Traffic issue
Growth beyond 2006
Planners see I-540
overtaxed in future An informative article with long range traffic studies
for NW Arkansas.
Water pressure to the west
side of Bella Vista
A large scale water line project is in the works for the west side of
Bella Vista. It will alleviate the current high pressure needed to pump
water up there and reduce the common leaks in the system.
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