Benton County planners OK church plan near Siloam Springs

Benton County planners approved the site plan for a 7,800 square-foot building for the Iglesia Church on 20491 Bruce Rutherford Road near Siloam Springs.

The plan submitted calls for the church to be constructed on land on the southeast side of Bruce Rutherford Drive. Adjacent land is either agricultural land or single family residential. The plans call for a row of cypress trees to be planted along the southern and eastern sides of the church building to screen it from the residences on those sides of the property.

The proposal drew few questions from the board or neighboring property owners. In response to a question about the building possibly altering drainage in the area the board directed Ron Homeyer, the engineer on the project, to note pre-construction and post-construction runoff calculations on a revised plan

At the board's technical advisory committee review of the project Sept. 7, Jonathan Barnett, representing the church, said the congregation is housed in a smaller building in Siloam Springs and the project represents an expansion for the church. Ashley Tucker, board chairman, asked Homeyer if the church contemplated any expansion on the site in the future.

"I'm sure they would love to expand in the future, but right now they're focused on what's in front of them," Homeyer said.

Also Wednesday, the board considered plans to add space for recreational amenities for the Rocky Branch Resort on Park Road east of Rogers. The county issued a stop work order on the site when it was learned construction was underway without permits. The owner and developer were directed to submit a plan for the work to the Planning Division and the project was discussed during the technical advisory committee portion of Wednesday's meeting.

Dave Chasten, representing the project, said the plans are for the construction of a recreational area, with gravel parking, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and a covered pavilion. A building that had housed several businesses, including a restaurant and convenience store, was demolished.

"We donated the building to the fire department so they could do a practice burn on it," Chasten said. "That's how we got rid of it."

The board discussed the plans and told Chasten he'll need to have the Arkansas Health Department confirm the adequacy of the septic system before any additional work is done. The project will be the subject of a public hearing by the board at it's next meeting Oct. 5.

NW News on 09/22/2016

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