The Coldwater Planning Commission on July 22 approved a special-use permit allowing Natasha Powell to convert a former chapel at 430 West Chicago Street into a licensed child care center for preschool-age children. The commission approved the permit with conditions requiring a single ADA-accessible parking pad and a fenced outdoor play area; the motion explicitly excluded a requirement that the applicant add exterior lighting.

Commission members voted after a staff presentation describing the proposal and site requirements. Planning staff said the applicant proposes to convert the roughly 1,300-square-foot former chapel into a licensed child care facility and to make interior improvements and add an outdoor play area. “This property is located within the C-1 Central Business District, and is required to have a special use permit, per section 3.17(c),” staff said. Staff also noted a zoning standard that any accessible parking space must have a firm, stable surface as required by section 5.2.t.2 of the zoning ordinance.

The applicant, Natasha Powell, described the program and enrollment plans. “The child care center will be for 3- to 6-year-old children,” Powell said, adding it will use Montessori materials inside and a natural, low play structure outside. Powell said she will lease the building, expects to hire at least one additional staff member and anticipates enrollment of about 15 to 20 children. She said typical hours would be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with after-school care available until about 5:15 p.m.

A written comment from a nearby resident raised safety and tax concerns. Planning staff read an email from Brian Smith of 31 Munson Street, who wrote, “My backyard connects to 430 West Chicago Street,” and asked whether a fence would be provided for the play area and whether the facility would raise his property taxes. Staff said they had responded to the sender and noted that a legal notice for the hearing was published July 3 and that notices were mailed and properties within 300 feet were posted.

Commission discussion focused on three operational issues: a fenced play area, the ADA-accessible parking surface and exterior lighting. Staff recommended a single accessible parking spot with a concrete or asphalt pad to meet the ordinance’s “firm and stable surface” requirement; the property owner had indicated willingness to provide that improvement. On lighting, staff said building-mounted lighting that illuminated parking and did not spill onto neighboring properties would likely meet standards, but commissioners agreed to omit a lighting requirement and leave lighting to staff verification if needed. Commissioners also confirmed the event space that shares the building would remain in mixed use.

The commission then approved the special-use permit with the conditions noted. The transcript records that a motion to approve, excluding lights and requiring the one ADA parking pad and a fenced play area, passed; the meeting record does not show a named mover or seconder.

The decision allows Powell to proceed with interior work and to establish the licensed preschool subject to the permit conditions and any required inspections or licensing from other agencies.

Less critical details: staff said the conversion would involve minimal exterior changes and that a full site plan was not required; staff also indicated they received one written correspondence. The commission opened and closed the public hearing at the meeting before taking its vote.