Pools sunk, tennis courts bounced : The Bella Vista Townhouse Association voted to begin closing some facilities.
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008
BELLA VISTA — Beginning next year, there will be some changes in the Bella Vista Townhouse Association’s recreational amenities, but no final decision on their future will be made until 2010.
The association’s board of directors unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday to begin closing some facilities — specifically pools and tennis courts — in 2009, then evaluate the usage of the amenities that remain open.
The vote was in response to a survey the association sent earlier this year to all 1, 048 townhouse owners, asking their preference regarding either closing or repairing the pools and tennis courts. Some of the facilities are more than three decades old and, in the case of at least one pool, just barely passed a state Health Department inspection.
Included in the survey was information that for every $ 100, 000 in repair or replacement costs, there would be an $ 8-per-month increase in townhouse assessments. Townhouse owners currently pay $ 55 a month in addition to their Bella Vista Property Owners Association assessments.
Slightly more than 50 percent of the surveys were returned.
The results show that 75 percent of townhouse owners want the pools closed, and 88 percent want the tennis courts closed.
Following a meeting to discuss those results, the Townhouse Association Board had a workshop to devise a plan of action. What the directors came up with is to close the Metfield and Britten Court pools and continue operating the pool at Cora Circle with regular maintenance, approval from the Health Department and staffing by attendants instead of lifeguards. The facility’s usage would be tracked in the coming year.
As for the tennis courts, Cora Circle’s courts will be closed, and operations will continue at Metfield and Brompton, provided safe play can be maintained.
The resolution also calls for the board to seek bids on renovating or enlarging the Cora Circle pool, renovating the Cora Circle tennis courts and removing all other pools and courts.
There also is an option to do a follow-up survey if renovations of any amenities are planned.
General Manager David Whittlesey said no action other than closing some facilities will be taken in 2009. Come the fall of 2009, the plan and its success or failure will be revisited, and a decision will be made on the future of the other pools and courts.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
