VIDEO: Benton Council votes down rezoning for Christian school near Buc-ee’s

The Benton City Council video is below. Significant times are noted in the article.

It was a split vote, with Benton City Council ultimately voting against changing a zoning at the request of a proposed Christian school that would have been named Saline Christian Academy. The request was by a corporation titled Jesus Plus Nothing, LLC.

This happened during the regular council meeting Monday night, December 15, 2025. Read more below about those who spoke for and against the project’s rezone, and how Council members voted.

The 93 acres are located near the northeast corner of the intersection of Interstate 30 and Arkansas Highway 229. The Benton City Council video is below. Significant times are noted in the article.

There were several people who came to speak for or against the rezoning of property on the north side of Interstate 30 and just west of Arkansas Highway 229. It was ten-to-one, with more speakers advocating for the rezoning of about 93 acres of property.

The speakers wanted the property to change from its current zoning of R8 (multi-residential), to C3 (commercial). From there, the requesters wanted the City to approve it as a conditional use for the proposed Christian school.

According to the architect for the project, Brian Black, the school plan was to build a 70,000 square foot elementary school on the easternmost portion of the property.

Ordinance 66 of 2025 would have approved that change. Here’s the title:

ORDINANCE NO. 66 OF 2025 – AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED AT PARCEL #805-22100-007; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

The City began addressing the request as follows (along with time they appear in the video below):

19:32 Cindy Stracener, City Clerk, reads Ordinance 66 of 2025.

21:24 Mayor calls speakers to the microphone.

The ten that advocated for the project and rezoning are as follows (along with time they appear in the video below):

21:45 Jonathan Hope of Hope Engineering – The firm who represents the project’s request.

23:18 Brandon Graham – Pastor at Victory Baptist Church on Hwy 67.

26:15 Jason Carson – Benton grad and Superintendent at Conway Christian School.

29:58 Brian Black – Project architect.

32:55 Gary Arnold – Retired Christian school superintendent and member of the Board of Education.

35:51 Hannah Bunch Reber – Principal of Saline County Christian Academy.

38:53 Greg Jones – 27 years in education, helped with traffic planning on this project.

41:40 Dan Moudy – Real Estate Broker, owns adjacent land on the project.

43:40 Brian Rosenthal – Attorney at Rose Law Firm

46:53 Jennifer Hill – Mother of two young children that she hoped would attend the school.

The one that advocated against the project and rezoning are as follows (along with time they appear in the video below):

49:55 Boyd Goodner – Member of Benton School Board

After speakers were done, Mayor Farmer called for a vote among the City Council members (along with time this happens in the video below)::

53:12 City Council votes –

Frank Baptist – NO – His audio could not be heard.

Steve Brown – NO – He notes that he is voting the way his constituents want him to.

Ann Spencer-Cole – NO – With no explanation.

Evelyn Reed – NO – With no explanation.

Bill Donnor – YES – With no explanation.

Jeff Morrow – NO – With no explanation.

Judd Hart – NO – With no explanation.

Trevor Villines – YES – He said his vote was based on a precedent set by issuing a conditional permit to another private Christian school.

Steve Lee – YES – He said that Christian teachings should be in every school.

Jeff Hamm – YES – With no explanation.

57:25 Jesus Plus Nothing requested to withdraw the request for a rezone.

57:40 City Council motioned for a vote and unanimously approved the withdrawal.

58:30 END

Here’s the video of the meeting, with all of the comments and votes. See the previous article about this property and project plans at https://www.mysaline.com/benton-pz-120225/.