Board of Adjustment delays Arc Montgomery private‑school request, asks for traffic study and neighborhood outreach

The Montgomery City Board of Adjustment on Monday delayed consideration of The Arc Montgomery’s request for a special exception to use a former church at 2130 Bell Road as a private school, and asked the applicant to deliver a traffic study, meet with nearby neighborhood representatives and present a site plan showing vehicular access improvements.

The action came after about 90 minutes of public comment and questioning by board members during which The Arc’s representatives described the program and neighbors and city staff raised concerns about traffic and access. John Stanley, chairman of the Board of Adjustment, opened the item by noting the property previously had approval for a church and asking the applicants to identify themselves.

Stephanie Nunn, HR coordinator for The Arc Montgomery, described the nonprofit’s services and proposed program: “we've been in business for over 50 years, and we have been committed to serving individuals with intellectual development disabilities for the Montgomery and the surrounding communities.” Nunn said the program would be a day program with vocational training, life skills and community engagement, operating weekday hours the applicants listed as 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. Nunn said the facility’s current enrollment is 96 and the building was presented with a capacity figure on application of 220.

Jim Parker, chairman of The Arc Montgomery’s board of directors, told the board the organization needs a new facility because its current site on McGinnis Road “is in bad repair” and the insurer has threatened cancellation. Parker said the applicant intends to buy the Bell Road property and has completed inspections by the state, the fire marshal and the city architect.

Residents and an engineering consultant pressed the applicant for traffic planning. Al Garrison, who spoke from the audience as a neighborhood resident, said the meeting notice had been knocked down at the roadway and asked whether…