It appears Taco Bell’s future in Selma is very bright as restaurant officials unveiled plans for a new building during Tuesday’s Selma City Council meeting.

The new building was announced during a public hearing where the council vacated a portion of an unused alley located by the Taco Bell location on Highland Avenue.

“We are expecting big things for this restaurant,” Sam Festoso, with Monty Mex Corporation, said. “Selma has always been one of the best stores for us in the Montgomery area. We are looking forward to this new store.”

Festoso said the new store would make up a nearly $1.2 million investment on the part of the company and would replace the store that is nearly 30 years old.

He also added the company hoped to begin work in June and once it begins, the project would take between 60 to 90 days.

During the public meeting, Festoso and Carroll Gillespie, with Loren Electric Sign Corporation, addressed any concerns the council or members of the public might have had about the proposed plans.

Ward 7 councilmember Bennie Ruth Crenshaw asked the design of the property be changed slightly to ensure there is some sort of sound barrier, reducing any noise that may be heard by nearby homeowners.

“If you can agree to take care of this issue, then I have no problem voting for this,” Crenshaw said. Both Gillespie and Festoso agreed to work with Crenshaw, the council and the city to amend the plans.

The reason Taco Bell officials had asked for the city to vacate the unused alley is because the new store’s property design would encroach on where the alley is currently located.