BENTONVILLE -- Benton County planners Wednesday approved plans for a church and riding arena near Siloam Springs.
The Benton County Planning Board unanimously approved plans for the Corner Post Cowboy Church project, proposed on 15-acres at 18200 Old Highway 68. The plans call for a 6,000 square-foot church and a horse riding arena on the same site.
Ron Homeyer, planning board member, was the engineer on the project. Homeyer recused from the board's deliberation but answered questions about the project.
Homeyer said the riding arena will be used infrequently, at least initially.
"This is not something that's going to be occurring weekly or even monthly," Homeyer said. "There could be more activity in the summer."
At the board's Technical Advisory Committee meeting last month, the board discussed lighting requirements, if the riding arena is to be used at night, provisions for water for both the church and arena and dust-control measures for the arena.
The board asked about seeking a waiver to avoid the requirement for screening the church and riding arena from adjacent residential properties.
Homeyer said the property was chosen because it's visible from U.S. 412, just to the south and the owners want it to be easily seen. He said there will be no free-standing sign for the church, just a sign on the building. Homeyer also offered to have some plantings done around the arena if the board granted the waiver on the requirement to screen the entire property.
The board granted the waiver on the screening requirements but asked Homeyer to specify hours of operation as part of the plan. Without lights, he said, the facility will be limited to daylight hours. If lights are installed in the future, he said, the facility will close no later than 11 p.m.
With their questions answered, the board approved the plan for the project.
The board also discussed the increasing number of requests seeking waivers of the requirements there be no more than one septic system on a single lot. The board granted two septic system waivers Wednesday night and had another up for discussion in its Technical Advisory Meeting period. County ordinances require five yes votes from the seven-member board to approve any waiver, not just a majority of the members present at a meeting.
John Sudduth, the county's general services administrator who oversees the planning department, said those requirements make it vital board members attend meetings whenever possible so applicants aren't faced with the need to get unanimous or near-unanimous support for requests.
NW News on 07/07/2016