The Scarborough Planning Board had its first look Monday night at a school designed for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Morrison Development and Educational Center, formerly known as the Cerebral Palsy Center, hopes to combine both its Portland and Scarborough centers into one building, including a gym and two greenhouses. The school would be located on the corner of Highland Avenue and Chamberlain Road, with the main driveway on Magnolia Drive. The seven-acre lot is the first proposal for development on the now-closed Pleasant Hill Golf Course.

Though the board was receptive to the preliminary plans of the 30,900-square-foot school, members warned future developers that the new comprehensive plan recommends the golf course have a “master plan.”

“We don’t want to see this piecemeal,” said Board Chairwoman Susan Auglis.

Tim Thompson, president of the Morrison Center, explained the purpose of the school.

“We’ve been working on this for a number of years, and it’s finally come to fruition,” said Thompson. The school is for children from preschool age to seniors with developmental disabilities. The center specializes in physical and speech therapy and aims to create a sense of community for its clients, he said.

By combining the two facilities, he added, the school can better serve their 70 students and make work easier for staff members.

“The facilities they have right now are makeshift. They’re using what they have,” said architect Ben Walter, with Curtis Walter Stewart Architects. “What we’re trying to achieve is a facility that is on the same level with the rest of the schools being built in the community,” said Walter.

The board asked Morrison Center to consider traffic implications and study lighting and buffering to reduce impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Auglis suggested that the developers hold a meeting with the residents on Magnolia Drive.

“I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be fine, but it’s always a smart idea when you’re putting in something new,” said Auglis.

In other news, the board also granted the Bessey School Senior Housing final approval. This project will renovate the former Bessey School building, creating 14 affordable apartments for independent seniors. A new building with 40 apartments will be constructed, to be connected to the Bessey School.

A second phase could one day be possible, said Cindy Taylor, president of Housing Initiatives of New England, the developers. Eventually, she said, there is room to build a senior center, more independent housing or possibly an assisted-living center.