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BZA approves daycare at 1717 Casopolis with state licensing and two-year review
Summary
The board approved a use variance allowing a daycare center at 1717 Casopolis Street, subject to standard daycare conditions, state licensing, inspections and a two-year administrative review.
The Elkhart Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 11 approved a use variance to allow a daycare center at 1717 Casopolis Street, the former Westview Florist building, subject to standard conditions, state licensing and a two-year staff review.
Petitioner Steve Hill, an investor who owns multiple Elkhart properties, said he acquired the building for operator Sharmanique McDaniel, founder of Small Miracles, which runs licensed child-care centers in Elkhart and South Bend. McDaniel described the center as low-ratio, serving mainly low-income families and said the building is suitable for classrooms, staff areas and an outdoor play area.
City staff described the building as constructed about 1965 with roughly 8,293 square feet over two levels and said site work will include a fenced play area to the rear and parking on the south side of the building. The petitioner proposes up to 50–70 children and 10–12 staff, with hours of operation Monday–Friday, 4 a.m.–6 p.m. Staff said the petitioner must obtain state approval from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) for a licensed childcare facility and also meet local building and fire requirements.
Staff recommended approval with conditions typical for daycare centers: restrict children to building and fenced play area except for supervised walks; maintain clean facility and grounds; allow reasonable inspections by the zoning administrator; submit childcare license to planning on request; void the variance if the center ceases operation for more than one year; maximum children to be determined by state staff-child ratios; and require a two-year review by the BZA (staff review by Sept. 13, 2027).
Board members voted unanimously to approve the variance (Mulvaney: Yes; Osborne: Yes; Lightman: Yes). Staff mailed seven notices and received no written objections.
