Centerton Planning Commission Recap: January 6, 2026

Centerton Planning Commission Recap: January 6, 2026

By Allie Verdery, The Blue Haired Broker with Engel & Völkers Bentonville
Your local resource for understanding how planning decisions shape Centerton real estate

One of the most common questions I hear from homeowners and buyers is,
“When did that get approved?”

The answer is usually at a Planning Commission meeting.

On January 6, 2026, the Centerton Planning Commission met to review several items that directly affect land use, neighborhood compatibility, and future development patterns. These decisions often happen months or even years before construction begins, which is why paying attention early matters.

If you were not able to attend, this recap explains what happened, what was decided, and why it matters in practical, real-world terms.

A quick note on meeting structure

Two meetings were held back to back:

1. Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA)

2. Planning Commission

They serve different roles. The Planning Commission is where long-term land use decisions are debated and shaped, and that is where most of the discussion occurred.

Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA)

The BZA portion was brief and procedural.

• Approved minutes from December 16, 2025

• Confirmed the next meeting will be held as needed

• Adjourned

No variances or appeals were considered during this portion.

Planning Commission Meeting

1) Minutes and Administrative Approvals

The commission approved:

• Planning Commission minutes from December 16, 2025

  • A small correction was noted, as the printed year should have read 2025

• One administrative approval

  • A home occupation permit for a remote bookkeeping business

This type of approval allows low-impact work-from-home businesses without changing the residential character of a neighborhood.

2) REZ25-09 Murray

Request to rezone 80 acres on Hutchins Road from A-1 (Agricultural) to I-2 (Heavy Industrial)

This was the most complex and debated item of the evening.

The request

The applicant requested to rezone approximately 80 acres from agricultural to heavy industrial. The stated goal was to align the zoning with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which identifies this area as suitable for industrial use due to airport proximity and location within the flight path.

Staff overview

City staff highlighted several key factors:

• The property is heavily wooded and currently undeveloped

• Access is available from Hutchins Road and Vaughn Road

• The site lies within the airport traffic pattern zone

• The Comprehensive Plan and economic development framework designate this area for industrial use

Staff also reviewed I-2 zoning standards, including limits on employees and traffic, restrictions on noise and vibration beyond property lines, and intensive buffering requirements when industrial zoning borders residential areas.

Public input

Residents spoke in opposition, expressing concerns about:

• The intensity of I-2 zoning near existing neighborhoods

• Traffic and road capacity

• Loss of wooded land and wildlife

• Possible impacts on property values

• Difficulty noticing the rezoning signage

A local homebuilder also spoke, stating that industrial use may make sense given the flight path, but that I-2 felt too intense next to residential development and that I-1 could be more appropriate.

Commission discussion

The central issue was not whether industrial belonged in this area. Most commissioners acknowledged that the Comprehensive Plan has identified this location for industrial use for years.

The concern was the level of industrial zoning.

Commissioners discussed the difference between permitted uses, which can proceed if code requirements are met, and conditional uses, which require additional hearings and allow the city to impose conditions. Several commissioners expressed concern that I-2 allows a wide range of permitted uses immediately adjacent to residential areas.

Others pointed out that many higher-impact uses are conditional and that adjacent properties in neighboring jurisdictions are already zoned industrial.

The vote

A motion was made to approve the rezoning.

Vote results

• Yes: Tony Davis, Devin Murphy, Ben Lewis, Jeff Seyfarth

• No: Brandon Swaboda, Curtis Ramsey, John Sessoms, Craig Langford

The result was a 4 to 4 tie, which means the rezoning failed at the Planning Commission level.

What happens next

The applicant may appeal the decision to City Council. Staff will issue a letter outlining the appeal process, and timing may place the appeal on a February council agenda.

This outcome does not permanently block development. It reflects concerns about intensity and compatibility at this specific location.

3) DEV25-06

Merry Matrons Coffee + Ice Cream

169 North Main Street

This item had a noticeably different tone and outcome.

The proposal

The applicant, Marrs Developing LLC, proposed remodeling the former Merry Matrons building into a coffee and ice cream shop with outdoor seating.

Marrs Developing LLC is part of the same Marrs family behind Marrs Mercantile in downtown Centerton, the same family many people recognize from HGTV. That context matters not because of name recognition, but because their projects tend to focus on adaptive reuse, community-oriented spaces, and long-term placemaking rather than short-term development.

The stated goal for this project is to restore the structure and create a walkable gathering place that fits naturally into downtown Centerton.

Staff overview

Key considerations included:

• Zoned C-1 Central Business District, intended for dense downtown uses

• Located in the floodplain, but all structures will remain outside the floodway

• The building will be elevated above base flood elevation

• Drainage plans were reviewed and approved

• A prior parking variance allows zero on-site parking

• A small right-of-way dedication and a fee-in-lieu for the planned trail system were proposed

• A landscaping waiver was supported due to site constraints and existing trees

Staff also noted that standard landscaping requirements do not always translate well to historic downtown properties.

Decision

After discussion regarding setbacks, lighting, utilities, and the adjacent street agreement, the commission approved the preliminary plans.

Outcome: Approved

Why this matters

Projects like this support downtown walkability, local business, and reinvestment in existing structures. Over time, that type of development strengthens neighborhood identity and long-term value.

On a personal note, this project is one block from a historic A Street property I recently put under contract. Seeing thoughtful reinvestment in this pocket of town is encouraging for residents, buyers, and the future of downtown Centerton.

4) PUB25-02

Public Works Building Addition #2

11509 Highway 72 West

The proposal

The City proposed expanding the Public Works facility to:

• Add equipment bay space

• Add limited office space

• Improve security and address code compliance

• Install a 7,500-gallon rain catchment system for reuse

Staff review

Staff reviewed the site history and drainage and recommended:

• Additional screening along the south property line adjacent to residential

• Consideration of a detention pond to improve overall site compliance

Decision

After discussion regarding fencing, landscaping thresholds, and site history, the commission approved the preliminary plans.

Outcome: Approved

Summary of Outcomes

Board of Zoning Adjustment

• Minutes approved

• Adjourned

Planning Commission

• Minutes approved

• Administrative approval ratified

• REZ25-09 Murray: Failed on a 4 to 4 tie vote

• Merry Matrons Coffee + Ice Cream: Approved

• Public Works Building Addition #2: Approved

Why I share these updates

Zoning and planning decisions shape how Centerton grows, how neighborhoods function, and how property values evolve over time.

My role is not only helping clients buy and sell homes. It is helping them understand what is happening around them and how those decisions may affect their investment and quality of life.

If you ever want to talk through how planning decisions intersect with real estate, I am always happy to be a resource.

314.517.3196

thebluehairedbroker.com