Commission approves family childcare home at 1191 Stafford after applicants scale back request

The City of Casper Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing a family childcare home at 1191 Stafford, after the applicants amended their request from a family childcare center for up to 15 children to a family childcare home with a proposed limit of about 10 children.

The change matters because the application shifted from a larger family childcare center (up to 15 children) to the smaller family childcare home category under municipal rules; commissioners said the amendment and the conditions in the staff report addressed many neighborhood concerns, although at least one commissioner voted against final approval.

Planning staff explained the property is in an R-1 residential estate district and that a family childcare center is a potential conditional use under section 17 28 0 3 0 (as cited in the staff report). Staff said the Department of Family Services (DFS) had issued an initial license on July 31, 2025, and that DFS rules require two workers for care at that size. Staff also noted city and county health and fire departments perform routine inspections and that the municipal code requires a minimum of two off-street parking spaces for customers. The staff report listed eight public comments and eight exhibits, and staff recommended conditions of approval as documented in the record.

Robert Barrett, who spoke on behalf of the applicant and identified his wife, Julie Barrett, as the owner and operator of Baby Bear Daycare, described a family-operated operation staffed by himself, his wife and their daughter. Barrett said the daycare had been operating about 30 days, had passed inspections and was intended primarily to serve educators at nearby schools. “Quality care is what the daycare strives to deliver in a home environment and not a large warehouse environment,” Barrett said. During testimony Barrett asked the commission to amend the application from a 15-child family childcare center to a smaller family childcare home and said he would reduce the request to 10.

Neighbors who spoke at the public hearing raised traffic and safety concerns at the intersection of Twelfth and Stafford streets, describing the corner as steep, blind and subject to speeding and ice in winter months. Jean Tichenor of 1091 Stafford said the corner is “very dangerous” and warned of the risk of children crossing busy Twelfth Street. Several neighbors submitted written opposition from addresses inside and outside the 300-foot notice area; staff listed letters from multiple Stafford addresses and one letter of support from 1101 Stafford.

Commissioners amended the application on the record from a family childcare center to a family childcare home (allowing 9–10 unrelated children) and then voted on the conditional use permit as amended. The motion to amend passed with all members present voting aye. The subsequent motion to approve the family childcare home, with the conditions noted in the staff report, carried with Commissioner Eskew voting nay and all other members present voting aye.

On the record commissioners and staff emphasized that licensing, inspections and parking requirements remain the responsibility of DFS and the applicable city departments, and that the conditions of approval recorded in the staff report apply to the conditional use permit. Commissioner questions during testimony included a clarification that an on-site sign would be limited to 1 square foot under the conditions.

The conditional use permit is effective with the conditions recorded in the staff report; staff said they will be in touch with the applicant to complete required paperwork.