🛠️ Bella Vista Reviews Utility Yard Violations Tied to Major Power Line Project
A large, gravel-covered construction site near 9304 Commonwealth Road is under scrutiny after it was discovered that the site has been operating without required city approvals.
Owned by Carroll Electric and used as a laydown yard and parking area for a regional power line upgrade, the 21-acre site has already seen substantial clearing and gravel placement—prompting the Planning Commission to review a retroactive large-scale development request and a bundle of waiver requests.
The site violates multiple sections of the Bella Vista development code, including:
Sec. 107-250(m): No pedestrian accommodations.
Sec. 107-314 and 315: General and specific parking lot design standards are not met.
A non-conforming gravel pad is being used for equipment and worker vehicles.
The property lies just east of the Bella Vista city limits and is part of a broader project connecting transmission lines between Bella Vista and Pea Ridge. While the applicant has pledged to install BMPs (Best Management Practices) to manage runoff and erosion, city staff stopped short of recommending approval due to the sheer number of code exceptions being sought.
