Montevallo council advances site plan for The Learning Tree, approves local construction and paving contracts

Montevallo City Council voted Jan. 12 to adopt a Planning and Zoning Commission resolution related to Case SP25-015, a site development plan for a proposed daycare to be known as The Learning Tree at 500 Freedom Parkway.

The resolution, considered at the council meeting and passed by unanimous voice vote, recommends approval of a roughly 5,000-square-foot childcare center on a 2.5-acre parcel (Parcel ID 58-27-1-02-0-000-001.002). During the public hearing, Latricia Adams, identified in the record as founder of the center, said the facility will be licensed for 106 children, operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and expects to open in the fall of 2026. The Planning and Zoning resolution notes that access for the project must be determined before final site-plan approval and that the applicant is exploring options after cross-access through the adjacent Lexington Parc subdivision was deemed unfavorable by the subdivision's corporate HOA.

In routine business the council unanimously approved a series of local contracts and a performance bond: a low bid of $81,300 from Ken Lindsey Construction Company to remodel the James D. Seaman Scout Lodge (funded by a grant and MDCD), a $29,250 contract with Central Alabama Asphalt & Construction Company to mill, pave and restripe the public parking lot at 550 Main Street (MDCD funding), and a $63,764 contract with Steel City Metal, Inc. to fabricate and install metal railing around that lot (MDCD funding). The council also accepted a $3,000 performance bond for land disturbance by O'Reilly Auto Parts Stores, Inc. related to a proposed store at 4705 Hwy 25. Each motion passed by voice vote; the minutes record “All Ayes.”

Council members who moved or seconded the motions are recorded in the minutes. The record does not list individual roll-call votes; the meeting's attendance list shows Mayor Rusty Nix and five council members were present, and actions were recorded as unanimous.

The Planning and Zoning resolution and related appendix materials in the meeting packet describe technical constraints for the daycare site, including that the property lies in the Scenic Corridor Overlay District and that access options under consideration include direct ingress from State Route 119 or shared access with an adjoining Dollar General. The council's action adopted the Planning and Zoning document as presented to the council; the resolution text states that access must be determined prior to final design approval, which may require redesign of the proposed layout.

Next steps: the resolution and staff notes indicate that final site-plan approval depends on resolving access; the applicant and city staff will need to confirm an access solution and any resulting design changes before issuance of final permits.