The City of Benton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on December 2nd, 2025, to consider several properties, including a proposed Christian school on 93 acres near the future location of Buc-ee’s. A company called Jesus Plus Nothing, LLC purchased the land on August 29, 2025, from Exit 114 Properties, LLC.
Read more below.
The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. on that Tuesday night. The location is Benton’s new City Hall at 410 River Street.
The agenda follows, along with the minutes from the previous meeting held November 4th.
AGENDA
Planning Commission Meeting Agenda – Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, 6:00 PM
1) Establish a Quorum/Call to Order
2) Statement of FOIA Compliance & Roll Call
3) Approve Minutes from November 4th, 2025 Special Meeting
4) Board of Adjustments
5) Planning Commission
a. Severn Landing Phase 4 [Final Plat]
b. Eden Estates [Rezone from R2 to R5; Multiple Lots]
c. Winchester Way [Preliminary Plat]
d. #805-22100-007 [Conditional Use for School] – Land near future Buc-ee’s, purchased by Jesus Plus Nothing, from Exit 114 Property. The Saline County Assessor’s office showed the following information in their records:
Parcel Number: 805-22100-007
County Name: Saline County
Property Address: Jesus Plus Nothing LLC, I-30 N, BENTON, AR
Total Acres: 93.39
Timber Acres: 93.14
Sec-Twp-Rng: 17-02S-15W
Legal Description: PT S/2 & PT SWNW 2025-016120
School District: 082 BENTON/BENTON
On a related note, Jesus Plus Nothing appears poised to purchase 121 acres of land that are adjacent to the 90-acre purchase from August.
According to the November 4th meeting minutes below (highlighted in orange) they submitted a request to the City, to rezone the 121 acres from residential to school zone. They can’t exactly do that, because they plan to build a private school, but land zoned as School Zone must be for public use only.
Commissioners approved an alternative, which was to rezone it from R8 to C3, and then approve it as a conditional use for the proposed Christian school.
The company is not currently listed as the owner of that 121-acre property. The Assessor’s office has Exit 114 Properties, LLC as the owner.
Read more about the property and possible school construction below in orange, and also in a Nov. 5th article by Brent Davis in Arkansas Money & Politics.
e. 6623 Alcoa Rd [C-Store; Site Plan], on property formerly known as Suggs Motorplexx.
Above, Google Street View with the property on the left. The caption has a typo – this image is from May 2013.
Above, Google Street View with 6623 Alcoa Rd outlined in red on the right.
6) Other Business
Meeting Adjourned
MINUTES
Benton Planning & Zoning Meeting Tuesday November 4th, 2025
Chairman Stilwell called the meeting to order. Roll call resulted in 0 member[s] being absent.
Members Present – Carl West, Brett Chumley, Lois Burks, Darrell Wood, John Clements, Pamela Gibson, James Stilwell, Andy Warford, Mark Chilton, Bruce Thomas, Interim Community Development Director, Chelsea Matthews, City Planner.
Approval of the minutes of November 4th, 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 West second.
Motion carried.
Board of Adjustments
2415 Cedar Ridge Drive [Variance for Lot Size Minimum]
Commissioner Warford recuses himself.
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the variance request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Richardson Engineering, on behalf of Justin Bethel [property owner] is requesting a variance for his property at 2415 Cedar Ridge Drive. The purpose of this variance is to allow for a Single Family Residence to built on this property even though the lot size minimum is not met – the current lot is 7,623 square feet and the lot size minimum is 11,500 square feet in an R1 [Single Family District] zone. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Tristin Phillips with Richardson Engineering speaks in favor of this request.
Commissioner West makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Burks second.
Motion carried 7-0.
Planning Commission
1203 W Sevier Street [Conditional Use for Church]
Commissioner Warford rejoins the meeting.
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the Conditional Use request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Richardson Engineering, on behalf of Benton First Church of Nazarene, is requesting approval of a Conditional Use permit for their property located at 1203 W. Sevier Street. This property is currently zoned R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and a Church is permitted by Conditional Use approval. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Tristin Phillips with Richardson Engineering speaks in favor of this request. The neighbor, Mrs. Haney, speaks about wanting a privacy fence to be installed along her property line between her and the Church – Mr. Phillips agrees to this request.
Commissioner Burks makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner West second.
Motion carried 8-0.
3168 Haley Court [Conditional Use for Youth Home]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the Conditional Use request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Jennifer Nelson [property owner contingent upon this Conditional Use approval] is requesting a Conditional Use permit at 3168 Haley Court. The current zone is R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and because a youth home is not classified in the matrix, a Conditional Use permit is required. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mrs. Nelson speaks in favor of this request. Multiple neighbors from the area are in attendance of the meeting to speak in opposition but request Preston Lewis to represent them all. Mr. Lewis shares their concerns about potential traffic, safety concerns, and the concern of a home being used for business purposes.
Item fails due to lack of a motion.
802 & 806 Columbia Avenue [Rezone from R2 to R5]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the rezone request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Richardson Engineering, on behalf of the property owners, is requesting approval of a rezone located at 805 & 806 Columbia Ave. The current zone for this property is R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and the applicant is requesting the property be rezoned to R5 [Multi Family District]. The purpose of this rezone is to be able to build a duplex at these properties. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Tristin Phillips, with Richardson Engineering speaks in favor of this request.
Commissioner Clements makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner West second.
Motion carried 8-0.
#805-22100-000 [Rezone from R8 to S] – 121.05 Acres off Hwy 229
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the rezone request. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Hope Consulting, LLC, on behalf of Jesus Plus Nothing [property owners] is requesting approval of a rezone request for their property located at #805-22100-000 [Address not Assigned].
This property is currently zoned R8 [Multi Family District] and they are requesting this property be rezoned to S [School]. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Jonathan Hope, with Hope Consulting, speaks in favor of this request. Mr. Hope gives clarification that the property owners want to build a private Christian school at this property.
Commissioner Gibson states that a “School Zone” is for public school use only so they would not be able to approve this rezone. She states that she would make a motion to approve a rezone from R8 to C3 [Service Commercial] with a Conditional Use approval on top of that, as allowed in a C3 zone.
Commissioner West makes a motion to approve a rezone from R8 to C3. Commissioner Clements Second.
Motion carried 8-0.
Commissioner West makes a separate motion to approve a Conditional Use permit for a School. Commissioner Clements second.
Motion carried 8-0.
*It was later determined by the City Attorney that a separate application for Conditional Use must be applied for by the applicant and submitted back to Planning Commission for approval*
David’s Burgers [Updated Site Plan]
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the Site Plan for David’s Burgers. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that David’s Burgers is requesting approval of a Site Plan for their property located at the rear of the parking lot behind Walmart. This property is currently zoned C3 [Service Commercial] and a restaurant with a drive-thru is a permitted use. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mark Rickett speaks in favor of this request and states that this Site Plan has been previously approved but they are now introducing a bigger building.
Commissioner Wood makes a motion to approve this request. Commission Warford second.
Motion carried 8-0.
Riverview Addition [Preliminary Plat]
Commissioner Wood recuses himself.
Chairman Stilwell asked Ms. Matthews to introduce the preliminary plat. Ms. Matthews reads the memorandum that states that Ben Wood [property owner] is requesting approval of a preliminary plat for Riverview Addition located at parcel #800-61763-000. This property is currently zoned R2 [Single Family District Detached Housing] and the applicant is requesting attached housing developments. Chairman Stilwell calls for any questions or comments regarding this request. Mr. Wood speaks in favor of this request.
Commissioner Warford makes a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Chumley second.
Motion carried 7-0.
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