The Benton Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 7th to consider changes in several properties, including a possible development on Scott Salem Road (6f below), and a rezoning at the Blue Heaven restaurant property (6b below).

See more info and images below.

The meeting is open to the public and begins at 6:00 p.m. on that Tuesday. It will be located at 410 River Street, which is the new Benton City Hall offices. See the full meeting agenda below, along with the meetings from two recent Planning Commission Meetings.

Meeting Agenda Oct 7, 2025

1) Establish a Quorum/Call to Order

2) Statement of FOIA Compliance & Roll Call – I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or polling regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025.

3) Approve Minutes from September 2nd , 2025 Planning & Zoning Meeting

4) Approve Minutes from September 9th , 2025 Special Meeting

5) Board of Adjustments

a. 7709 Shoreline Blvd [Variance for Side Setback]

b. 5912 Riviera Drive [Variance for BFE]

6) Planning Commission

a. 2011 Watts Road [Rezone from R1 to R5] (single family to multiple family)

b. 15228 I-30 [Rezone from C3 & R5 to C3] (commercial offices, retail, restaurants)

c. 2319 Kelso Circle [Rezone from R2 to C2]

d. 825 N Main Street [Rezone from R2 to C1]

e. Silica Heights Rd [Rezone from AG to C2]

f. Scott Salem Rd Village [“Kendall’s Corner; Preliminary Plat]

g. Cottage Walk; Phase 1 [Final Plat]

h. The Grove @ Centennial Valley; Phase 5 [ETJ; Final Plat]

i. Panther Cove [Final Plat]

7) Other Business

a. Rezone/Conditional Use Fee and Notice Updates [Vote Needed]

b. Discussion ONLY – Proposed Ordinance Changes

Meeting Adjourned

Meeting Minutes Sept 2, 2025

Chairman Stilwell called the meeting to order. Roll call resulted in 1 member[s] being absent.
Members Present
Brett Chumley
Lois Burks
Darrell Wood
John Clements
Pamela Gibson
James Stilwell
Andy Warford
Bruce Thomas, Interim Community Development Director
Chelsea Matthews, City Planner
Members Absent
Carl West
Mark Chilton

Approval of the minutes of August 5 th 2025, Planning Commission Meeting Chairman Stilwell asked if there were any additions, deletions, or corrections to the minutes. Commissioner Gibson makes a motion to approve the minutes, as is. Commissioner Wood second. Motion carried.

Board of Adjustments

7709 Shoreline Blvd [Variance for Side Setback Line]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the variance request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Built by Layton LLC [property owner] is requesting a variance for his property at 7709 Shoreline Blvd. The purpose of this variance is to allow for a retaining wall to be built within the left side setback [8’ setback minimum per final plat]. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mr. Watson [property owner] is not present at this meeting. Item fails due to lack of a motion.

Planning Commission

6718 & 6720 Alcoa Rd [Rezone from R2 to C2]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the rezone request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Nick Landers & Josh Bowden [property owners] is requesting approval of a rezone request for their property located at 6718 & 6720 Alcoa Rd. This property is currently zoned R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and they are requesting this property be rezoned to C2 [General Commercial]. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Josh Bowden speaks in favor of this item. Commissioner Burks makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Gibson second. Motion carried 6-0.

#805-10769-000 [Rezone from R2 to R6]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the rezone request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Hope Consulting LLC, on behalf of Havens Development [property owner] is requesting a rezone at parcel #805-10769-000 [address not assigned]. The current zone is R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and the applicant is requesting this property be rezoned to R6 [Multi Family District]. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Jonathan Hope with Hope Consulting speaks in favor of this item. Multi citizens from the surrounding neighborhood come and speak against this item. The concerns of the group include traffic increases, crime increases, safety, and potential floodplain issues. Due to the number of concerns, Mr. Hope withdraws this request.

The Crossings @ 114; Phase 2 [Preliminary Plat]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the preliminary plat. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Rasburry Surveying, on behalf of the property owners, is requesting approval of a preliminary plat for The Crossings @ 114; Phase 2. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mr. Rasburry speaks in favor of this request. Commissioner Burks makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Clements second. Motion carried 6-0.

Cottage Walk; Phase 1 [Final Plat]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the final plat for Cottage Walk; Phase 1. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Hope Consulting LLC, on behalf of Little Rock LD LLC is requesting approval of a final plat for Cottage Walk; Phase 1. Ms. Matthews asks that this item be tabled due to WasteWater comments not being addressed. Item tabled.

Spencers Crossing; Phase 2 [Final Plat]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the final plat for Spencers Crossing; Phase 2. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Hope Consulting LLC, on behalf of Bragg & Kennedy Homes, is requesting approval of a final plat for Spencers Crossing; Phase 2. This property was annexed into Benton City Limits as an R3 [Single Family Residential District] zone [Ordinance 18 of 2023]. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mr. Hope speaks in favor of this request. Commissioner Wood makes a motion to approve this request. Commission Warford second. Motion carried 6-0.

Meeting Minutes Sept 9, 2025

Chairman Stilwell called the meeting to order. Roll call resulted in 4 member[s] being absent.
Members Present
Brett Chumley
John Clements
Pamela Gibson
Andy Warford
Mark Chilton
Bruce Thomas, Interim Community
Development Director
Chelsea Matthews, City Planner
Members Absent
Lois Burks
Darrell Wood
Carl West
James Stilwell

Special Meeting 09/09/2025:

1309 Nature Way [Variance for West Side Setback Line]
*Since Chairman Stilwell is not here, Commissioner Gibson sits in as the Chairman. Commissioner Gibson asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the variance request for 1309 Nature Way. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Hope Consulting, LLC, on behalf of the property owners, is requesting approval of a variance at their property. The purpose of this variance is because a home was built 5’ from the property line instead of the 8’ required by the final plat. Commissioner Gibson calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Corbin with Hope Consulting speaks in favor of this request. Commissioner Chilton makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Warford second. Motion carried 5-0.

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