WHY ?

Bella Vista is an amazing place in which to live. We have lakes, fitness centers, golf courses, swimming pools and over 150 miles of trails. We have an amazing assortment of friendly people energy, of volunteer opportunities. Our housing options are somewhat limited - we have single family detached houses, townhouses, and one 55+ co-op apartment complex. Options for folks who want to downsize and live in a pocket neighborhood do not really exist. Our Bella Vista 2040 Comprehensive Plan suggests - “support a variety of living opportunities throughout the City … that allow residents to “age in place””. Owl Commons fits that goal.

WHAT ?

Owl Commons will be a 55+ community of contemporary cottage style housing around a common green space for social interaction. As a co-housing community, we will also have a Common House with a kitchen and meeting area for pot luck dinners and other events, bedrooms for your occasional guests, a tool lending library, a dog washing station and a bike repair workshop. With those amenities available in the Common House, your own house and garage can be smaller.

Housing choices include one bedroom and two bedroom homes, with office nooks or areas that can be yoga or craft areas also. Homeowners are expected to have some choices as to materials and colors and can add solar, an EV charging station, or opt to have rainwater for their home instead of a water meter. Sizes range 700 square feet to a 1500 sq ft. Interior doors will be 36”. Our target is to have these homes be affordable to buy and maintain. All homes will be built to energy efficient standards and use healthy building materials, such as no vinyl windows or siding.

Note that there will be no STR (Short Term Rentals) allowed except for the common house bedrooms. No outside cats will be allowed.

Residents will be members of the Owl Commons condo/ or homeowners’ association that will make decisions about the community and take care of maintenance and management. If you are a gardener you will be welcome to assist in taking care of our natural pollinator gardens, or shared vegetable gardens.

WHERE ?

Owl Commons will be located on Bella Vista’s only lake front and golf front property - 7.6 acres in the Metfield area. The land has a great mixture of hardwood trees and pines plus dogwood scattered throughout. We have deer, chipmunks, foxes, raccoons and an amazing variety of birds including herons and the occasional eagle. The community will maintain those amenities plus add native plantings in common areas that are not wooded. Lake Brittany is the only lake stocked with trout and is great for swimming and kayaking. The property immediately adjoins the Back 40 Rago Trail and you can access the Razorback Greenway at the end of the street and go all the way to Fayetteville.

WHEN ?

Surveying has been completed (2/24) and we are in the process of designing the community. For submission to the City for a PZD (Planned Zoning District) we need to have all the floor plans done, along with color choices, public improvements and lots of details. That process is time consuming and extensive, but we will be working diligently to expedite this process.

As soon as we have floor plans available we will begin taking reservations for homes and locations, as we expect demand will be high. First preference will be given to Metfield residents and then existing Bella Vista residents.

WHO ?

Shelter Concepts LLC owned by Linda Lloyd is the developer. Linda has been a Realtor since 1973, she owns Acorn Realty (who will handle the sales) and has served on the Bella Vista City Council, the BV Strategic planning committee, and CHIPS, the Citizens committee to help improve public safety. She is also on the Board of the Bella Vista Historical Society and The Bella Vista Foundation and is a current member of the Benton County Planning Board and the Bella Vista Planning Commission. She has received a Green Builder of the Year award in Virginia, a Baltimore Heritage Award and has a Masters Degree in Planning. She has developed eco-village and other communities in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Linda currently lives on the property that will become Owl Commons.