A request for a special use permit to operate a private, non-profit school for students with special needs on the property located at 416 S. Second W. St. was tabled by the Snowflake Town Council at the Oct. 2 meeting, pending more answers to the questions asked.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Sept. 11, where the special use permit request was presented. The commission did not recommend any provisional conditions be place on this request. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval.
The Taylor/Snowflake Fire Department inspected the building and approved its use and states that the building can accommodate up to 30 students.
David Alexander, chief executive officer and founder of White Mountain Academy, addressed the council, saying, “I have been a teacher for 18 years and what we want to provide is a safe place for students to experience real life situations.”
The property is located near the high school, which prompted concerns regarding parking, parent pickup and whether the students would be walking home.
Alexander said the students would be brought to the school via vans. “We are talking about kids with severe disabilities, so they will not be going anywhere by themselves.”
Due to the times the school would be in session from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Alexander did not feel there would be interference with the high school or the traffic that produces.
Alexander said that no more than 30 students would be at this location with 10 staff members. “The house is 6,000 square feet,” said Alexander. “We will be living in the house and will be using part of it for the school. We only plan to use the house as a school for two or three years and then are hoping to build a school. But as family, we want to live in that house forever.”
Councilman Byron Lewis asked, “Do you have a backup location should this not work?” Alexander replied that this was the only location they had picked. The purchase of the house is dependent on the special use permit being given to them.
Lewis made a motion to table this item until the next meeting for further information, stating, “There are too many things unsettled for me to make an informed decision.” The council voted unanimously to table the item.
The property is zoned multi-family although the actual uses in the area are primarily single-family homes. The town code indicates that a private school may be operated in a multi-family zoned area with the approval of a special use permit.
Snowflake-Taylor Fire Chief William Nelson gave an update on the two used fire trucks that the Town of Taylor approved for purchase in September. Nelson said that the trucks are identical and the cost for both is $340,000 to be paid from the Wildland funds received by the town. The trucks should be delivered sometime in November.
Nelson also noted that the fire department had joined with the fire departments from Pinetop-Lakeside, Timber Mesa, Show Low, Heber-Overgaard and Clay Springs for a grant that would replace all the breathing apparatus, bringing each department up to 2018 standards.
The council went into executive session for three items: the Country Club Properties agreement, Freeman Home Lease agreement and the water adjudication.
Upon returning from executive session, the council:
* Tabled discussion and possible action regarding Country Club Properties agreement.
* Approved giving a year notice to terminate the Freeman Home lease agreement.
* Approved Lewis as the town representative to be deposed for the Water Adjudication trial. The proposal ended with Vice Mayor Kerry Ballard and Councilmen Hunter Lewis, Cory Johnson, Greg Brimhall and Byron Lewis voting in favor and Mayor Lynn Johnson and Councilwoman Allison Perkins voting against.
* Approved the financials for Sept. in the amount of $290,549.
* Approved the 2018 Regional Connector Transit Services Intergovernmental Agreement with White Mountain Connections.
