The Saline County Planning Board will consider a site plan on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, for a proposed private school along U.S. Highway 70. This is the same educational project that previously sought to build near Interstate 30’s Exit 114 across from Buc-ee’s in Benton.

The application, submitted by Hope Consulting, comes after months of public debate and a decisive city council vote that blocked the school’s initial location within Benton city limits. Read more in detail below.

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The site plan before county planners outlines a proposed campus along Highway 70 (west of Circle K) in unincorporated Saline County. Engineering diagrams prepared by Hope Consulting detail campus infrastructure, including a main school facility surrounded by parking lots, connecting roadways, and designated sewer treatment plans.

Organizers behind the private Christian school previously spent months pursuing a 93-acre tract off Jackman Trail and Highway 229, adjacent to Interstate 30 at Exit 114. The group, operating under Jesus Plus Nothing LLC, sought to establish a campus—tentatively named Saline Christian Academy—located directly across from the newly developed Buc-ee’s travel center.

However, the organization ended its quest for the Exit 114 site after encountering formal opposition from local public school leaders and failing to secure necessary rezoning approvals from the City of Benton.

During municipal meetings, public school representatives—including Benton School District Superintendent Chris Nail and local school board members—spoke against rezoning the Exit 114 land. Opponents argued that developing taxable commercial or residential property generates crucial property tax revenue for public schools, whereas a tax-exempt private school campus would not contribute to the public tax base in the same manner.

The issue reached a head when the Benton City Council voted 6-3 against the rezoning ordinance. Prior to the vote, Benton Mayor Tom Farmer recused himself from presiding over the proceedings at the applicant’s request, citing a potential conflict of interest because his son serves as president of the Benton School Board.

Following the city council’s rejection, the developers abandoned their efforts within Benton city limits and shifted their focus to unincorporated county property along Highway 70.

In addition to the Highway 70 school site plan, the Saline County Planning Board is scheduled to review several other development proposals during its Oct. 8 meeting, including the Blazing Trail pre-application, the Hawkins Valley preliminary plat, the Glenn’s Crossing replat, and the Saddlebrook Estates final plat.

The board will consider five new business agenda items brought forward by local applicants and engineering firms:

• Blazing Trail Pre-Application: Submitted by Kevin Naimoli.
• Hawkins Valley Preliminary Plat: Submitted by Garnat Engineering.
• Glenn’s Crossing Replat: Requested by Hope Consulting.
• Saddlebrook Estates Final Plat: Requested by Hope Consulting.
• Highway 70 Private School: A site plan proposal submitted by Hope Consulting Inc. on behalf of developer Summit Properties LLC for a private school facility along U.S. Highway 70.

The public meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Saline County Courthouse in downtown Benton.

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