Commission reviews final site plan for 10,485‑square‑foot daycare at Rose Lockport Center

The Lockport Planning and Zoning Commission heard staff and applicant presentations on final development plans for a 10,485‑square‑foot daycare facility proposed for Lot 5 of Rose Lockport Center, Unit 2, and discussed parking, drop‑off circulation and a requested administrative variance for the rear building setback.

Staff summarized the plan as a single‑story building of roughly 10,000 square feet (final plans listed 10,485 square feet) with a 6,155‑square‑foot outdoor playground, a 28‑space parking lot and a fenced play area. The site is in a C‑2 (community commercial) planned commercial development and the staff report said a daycare is a permitted use within that district. Staff also told commissioners that required engineering comments had been addressed and that the fire district, building official and police department had no development‑plan comments at the time of the presentation.

"A daycare is a permitted use within the C‑2 zoning district," said Kimberly, a planning staff member, while describing required plan revisions and conditions. Kimberly said staff would request an administrative variance for a rear building setback of 16.6 feet and that, if objections are received from abutting property owners, the case would return to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further notice and consideration. If no objections are received, the case would proceed to the committee of the whole.

Eric Koons, representing developer LFI and the applicant Shelby LLC, said LFI has owned the property since about 2006 and described the project team and prospective operator. Koons said the developer views a daycare as a quieter, compatible use adjacent to nearby residences and commercial parcels.

Chris Graham, one of the franchisees who would operate the Kiddie Academy, described typical drop‑off and pick‑up patterns and said the operator plans procedures to reduce congestion. "In general, even in the rush hour period, you'll have maybe 3 or 4 cars doing the drop off at any one time," Graham said, adding that staff‑assisted check‑in kiosks and staggered shifts at the center reduce simultaneous arrivals.

Commissioners asked about parking counts, circulation and lighting. Staff said the parking plan complies with Section 156.102, which requires one parking space per 400 square feet for daycare uses; 27 spaces were required and the plan provides 28. Staff also displayed a photometric study and noted that foundation and perimeter landscaping were provided in alternative locations; as a condition of approval required shrubs must be a minimum 24 inches in height and the plan set must be revised before the committee of the whole agenda.

A staff‑suggested motion circulated at the meeting would approve final development plans for a 10,485‑square‑foot daycare building with conditions that include: (1) required shrubs at a minimum 24‑inch height; (2) staff permission to pursue an administrative variance for the rear building setback prior to the committee of the whole; and (3) revision of the plan set to clearly mark the rear building setback before the committee of the whole. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the final plan during the excerpt provided; staff indicated the case would continue to the committee of the whole upon approval or return to the Planning and Zoning Commission if objections are filed.

The applicant team said they would coordinate final plan revisions and that signage and material elevations submitted are in conformance with city sign and material requirements. Developers also noted existing cross‑access to adjoining outlots, including access points at Feral Road across from the Jewel‑Osco and the traffic signal at the Aldi access point.

Next steps: staff will pursue the administrative variance process and require the revised plan set before the item is scheduled for committee of the whole. The record shows no final decision on the final development plan in the provided transcript segment; the project will advance only after the administrative variance process and any required public notifications are completed.