Parents, provider and residents urge Berkeley council to reconsider denial of Little Seedlings expansion

Taylor McKenna Dean, a Huntington Woods resident, told the Berkeley City Council that Little Seedlings of Berkeley was incorrectly required to seek a special land use permit to expand from six to 12 children and asked the council to "promptly review the Berkeley municipal code and Michigan legislature section as it applies to Little Seedlings and make an informed decision," saying the council's earlier decision "did not sit right with me."

The appeal drew comments from multiple parents and neighbors who said the council's denial of motion M0625 (the special land use request to allow Little Seedlings to serve six additional children) would force the small in‑home provider to close and worsen a local child‑care shortage. Jordan Dean of Huntington Woods said the city’s available options “far exceed availability, and most facilities have extensive wait lists, some exceeding 2 years.” Justin Simpson, who said he reviewed state licensing data, added that six additional cars…