Council approves conditional use for Wonder World Child Development Center at 698 Diagonal Road

Akron City Council approved a conditional use permit 12–0 for Wonder World Child Development Center to establish a child daycare business center at 698 Diagonal Road.

Mister Antonucci, a city staff member, told council the proposed one‑story, L‑shaped building would encompass roughly 14,000 square feet and include eight classrooms plus a kitchen, pantry, library, multipurpose room and office space. A fenced playground for younger children would sit immediately west of the rear portion of the building, with an open playground for school‑age children west of the fenced area. Antonucci said the facility would consolidate the petitioner’s existing location in an adjacent church and their 1,360 East Avenue location into the proposed building.

Antonucci said the petitioner estimated care for about 75 children from infants to school‑age and that operating hours would be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no overnight stays. He described an angled 10‑space parking area east of the building plus overflow parking behind the abutting Akron Alliance Fellowship Church; the petitioner described a collaborative parking arrangement with that church and staff said differing hours should limit conflicts. "The Wonder World Daycare has been operating in the adjacent church for 15 years," Antonucci said, and planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval subject to conditions.

Architect Bridgette Tipton, who said she lives at 458 West Main Street in Kent and is the project architect, spoke in favor and offered to answer design questions. Councilman Fusco pulled the committee for a favorable report and council passed the ordinance 12–0. The ordinance was advertised in the Akron Beacon Journal and posted on the council website prior to the hearing.