Bella Vista Rescinds Restrictive Policy Amid Builder Concerns
BELLA VISTA, Ark. — In a swift turnaround, the City of Bella Vista has rescinded a contentious policy that restricted the construction of flex rooms in new homes. The policy, which aimed to prevent these rooms from being converted into unofficial bedrooms, was overturned following significant backlash from the local building community and in-depth coverage by 5NEWS.
The now-abandoned regulation prohibited the inclusion of offices, workout rooms, and other versatile spaces in new constructions under the premise that these could exacerbate the strain on the city's septic systems. The concern was that flex rooms could easily be converted into bedrooms, increasing the number of residents per home and exceeding the capacity of existing septic systems.
Oliver A. Kiesel, owner of OAK Homes & Landscape and a third-generation custom home builder in Bella Vista, was among the most vocal opponents of the policy. Kiesel, whose family business has been building homes in the area since the 1970s, expressed his concerns publicly, arguing that the new rule would not only delay his ongoing projects by six to eight months but also severely restrict the design choices available to new constructions.
"My family started in the '70s. Here, we have built custom homes in Bella Vista for almost 50 years now," Kiesel recounted. "My grandfather and dad built the majority of Bella Vista. I mean, they have built literally thousands of houses."
Kiesel took his grievances to social media, sharing a letter from the city's Chief Building Official that detailed the now-rescinded policy. The letter explicitly stated that the city would no longer approve the installation of rooms that could serve as potential sleeping areas, citing a city ordinance that matches the number of bedrooms to a property’s septic system design.
The backlash was swift and significant, prompting a reevaluation of the policy by city officials. Within hours of the issue being highlighted by 5NEWS, the city decided to scrap the policy altogether.
"So this policy, let me just say is not going forward, we will not be enacting this policy," said Cassi Lapp, a representative from the City of Bella Vista. "We're going to revert back to our previous policy."
The city now plans to focus on educating homeowners about the capacities of their septic systems rather than restricting the types of rooms that can be included in new homes. This approach aims to address the root of the problem—septic system overload—without stifling architectural creativity and personalization in home building.
"This is something that never should have been set in place. I hope that Bella Vista will start working with the builders moving forward to tackle the major problem we have at hand of getting permits processed in a reasonable amount of time," Kiesel added, reflecting a sentiment echoed by many in the building community.
The reversal of this policy marks a significant victory for local builders and residents planning to construct new homes in Bella Vista, ensuring that the city remains a place where architectural innovation and personal needs can coexist with environmental and infrastructural considerations.
