Planning board approves Wellspring Retreat conditional use permit for nonprofit retreat and hybrid school

The Washington County Planning Board approved a conditional use permit on Dec. 4 for the Wellspring Retreat to operate a nonprofit religious retreat center and a nature‑based hybrid school, subject to conditions in the staff report and health‑department approvals.

Planning staff said the permit would use 8 acres of a 40.12‑acre parcel. Retreat programming includes weekend retreats beginning Friday and concluding Monday with small weekend retreats for up to 20 participants and larger day retreats capped at 50 participants. The proposed school would operate Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and accommodate as many as 45 elementary‑age students with 3–4 teachers on site; staff said the school is approved and will receive funds from the Arkansas Department of Education. The existing property includes a 2,800‑square‑foot cabin, a 35-by-40 foot gathering building, roughly 20 gravel parking spaces and grass overflow parking.

Applicant Andrew Lynch outlined a program focused on silent, nature‑based retreats and school programming, said they have letters of neighbor support and have invested about $5,000–$10,000 in private road improvements, and emphasized the intention to avoid loud events. Lynch told the board he obtained a health‑department site visit and that a septic design for up to 50 people was approved for the school and events.

There were two complaints on file with planning staff citing trespassing, road blockages and visitor disturbances, which staff noted in the packet. With no public comment at the hearing and no outstanding concerns after board questioning, a board member moved to approve the Wellspring conditional use permit as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The permit is approved subject to the planning conditions in the packet and the health‑department approvals referenced during the hearing.