ZBA approves home daycare at 34 Hoover Road with hours, fenced-play requirement and one-year review

The Grama Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 27 approved a special permit allowing Winifred Altice to operate a family daycare at 34 Hoover Road in West Yarmouth for up to six children, subject to conditions that include hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, no outdoor play unless the rear yard is fully fenced, and a one-year review.

The permit was granted under a zoning request referencing section 202.5 (use table P7) for family daycare. Chairman Sean Iago opened the hearing and asked the applicant to describe the proposal.

Translator Jennifer Estavez summarized Altice’s application to the board: “She wants to have her own business, and she likes kids. And she said, that's good, to have her own business at her house and work from her house with her, her kids.” Altice told the board she has two children, has prospective clients and plans to care for children ranging from about 9 months to 5 years.

Board members asked about capacity and on-site supervision. The board confirmed the permit will be limited to the six-child maximum allowed by the bylaw. Because parts of the rear yard are not fully fenced, the board added a condition that children not be permitted outside there until the backyard is fully enclosed; if the applicant later installs a compliant fence, the board said the outdoor restriction could be revisited during the permit review process. The board also required a one-year administrative review to confirm compliance.

A motion to approve petition 5,160 with the stated conditions passed unanimously. The board’s administrative instructions noted that the decision must be recorded with the town clerk and that a 20-day appeal period applies before the permit can be issued and recorded at the registry of deeds.

The decision allows the applicant to begin operating once the appeal period ends and the administrative recording steps are completed.