Planning Director Marty Kohler recommended approval, saying he didn’t believe it created any conflicts to nearby businesses and that it had sufficient open space. Kohler said it was not unusual to see day-care centers located in commercial areas.
The 8,400-square-foot building is on a two-acre lot that’s in a C-3 commercial area.
The staff report also indicated the proposed day-care center would accommodate 140 infants, toddlers, preschool and school-age children, and would have 15 employees. A fenced-in play area also is planned for the property at 4435 Marie Drive.
Youthland Academy has signed a 10-year lease with Ridge for the building.
Ridge bought the building several years ago and had unsuccessfully tried to attract another restaurant chain there.
“It’s a pleasure to see this,” said commission member Christopher Amburgey. “Few businesses meet this socially redeeming value.”
Commission member R. Jack Wolf said that Ridge, like fellow commission member Perry Thatcher, is an entrepreneur and an investor in the city of Middletown.
Commission member Mike Taylor suggested that the commission look at including day care centers as a use in commercial zones. Currently, child care centers are not permitted principal or conditional uses under the city’s zoning code.
The commission also approved a request from the city Planning Department to create Interim Development Control Overlay Districts that would allow the consideration of development applications on a case-by-case basis until the planning process is completed.
This would eliminate the need to place a moratorium to stop development during the planning process, Kohler said.
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