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Board approves special exception for childcare to relocate to 8683 Connecticut Street; goes to council
Summary
The Town of Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception (Z9E7-0425) allowing Little Discoveries to relocate to 8683 Connecticut Street; the decision is subject to final action by the Town Council.
The Town of Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals on April 25 approved special-exception petition Z9E7-0425 to allow Little Discoveries childcare to relocate to 8683 Connecticut Street, a property in a C-5 office and research zoning district.
The petitioner, Frances O'Brien, told the board she plans to move her center from Schererville to the site adjacent to a medical complex and operate full‑time care for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years, including summer camp and school‑break programs. O'Brien said the center would operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and that she currently runs a location in Schererville and has been in the childcare business for nearly 30 years. Staff reported the business now enrolls 57 children with 15 employees and said the petitioner intends ultimately to enroll about 140 children and employ 24 staff members.
Town planning staff told the board the application includes a letter of intent to purchase the property, on‑site food preparation under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a fenced play area, camera monitoring of the site, and a safety plan for drop‑off and pick‑up. Staff concluded the proposed use, as presented, would comply with applicable licensing and town regulations and would not be injurious to neighboring properties ‘‘for this petitioner only, at this location only, and for this use only,’’ as recorded in the staff report.
Board members asked about hours, expansion of capacity and whether extended hours to match hospital shifts would be considered; O'Brien said she had previously operated 24‑hour care at a location in Illinois and intends to expand hours later as staffing allows. No members of the public spoke for or against the petition during the public comment period.
Chairman Mosse moved to approve the special exception for the petitioner and the motion was seconded. A roll call vote was taken with all voting members recorded as voting yes. The board’s action is a recommendation; the petition will be placed on a future Town Council agenda for final approval.
Votes at the meeting also included an administrative vote to accept the minutes of the March 26 meeting; the minutes were accepted as written by voice vote at the start of the session.
