Owl Commons Adds a Different Kind of Housing Conversation in Bella Vista

Owl Commons is a proposed 55+ co-housing community in Bella Vista that points to a different kind of housing conversation for the city. According to the project website, the community is planned for 7.6 acres in the Metfield area on what the project describes as Bella Vista’s only lakefront and golf-front property. The site is near Lake Brittany, adjoins the Back 40 Rago Trail, and has access to the Razorback Greenway at the end of the street. Reservation have opened up & tours are available.

The project is planned around contemporary-style housing, common green spaces, and shared amenities. Owl Commons says the community will include a Common House with a kitchen and meeting area, guest bedrooms, a tool lending library, dog washing station, and bike repair workshop. Planned housing choices include one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes, with sizes ranging from about 800 to 1,350 square feet.

The project also includes several policy and lifestyle details that make it distinct from typical single-family development. The website says short-term rentals will not be allowed except for Common House bedrooms, outside cats will not be allowed, and residents will be members of a homeowners’ association responsible for community decisions, maintenance, and management. The project also highlights native plantings, natural pollinator gardens, and shared vegetable gardens.

According to the Owl Commons website, the Bella Vista Planning Commission unanimously approved the Planned Zoning District application on June 9, 2025, and City Council unanimously approved the application on June 23. The site also says the Planning Commission approved drawings in September, engineering drawings for roads and utilities have been completed, a site work contractor has been chosen, and the project is working with Arvest Bank on $1.8 million in financing.

For Bella Vista, the broader significance is housing variety. Much of the city’s housing identity has long been tied to detached single-family homes, townhomes, and retirement-oriented living. Owl Commons adds a smaller-scale, community-oriented model aimed at residents who want to downsize, remain connected to trails and amenities, and live in a more shared neighborhood format.