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Land Use Commission backs special-use expansion for Howard Street daycare
Summary
The Evanston Land Use Commission voted 7-0 to recommend City Council approve an expansion of Step by Step Learning Academy at 1905–1909 Howard Street to add an indoor playroom and separate toddler classroom, with staff conditions.
The Evanston Land Use Commission voted 7-0 Wednesday to recommend that City Council approve a special-use expansion for Step by Step Learning Academy at 1905–1909 Howard Street.
Joy Powell, the owner and operator of Step by Step Learning Academy, told the commission the facility expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to create separate classrooms for preschool/junior kindergarten and toddlers, and is seeking permission to add an indoor playroom and give two-year-old toddlers their own classroom. “We did an expansion during the pandemic for the purpose of increasing classroom sizes for social distancing,” Powell said. “Tonight's proposal is to add a playroom into the school unit because they don't have anywhere to play inside and we don't have one outside.”
City staff presented the application and advised the commission under sections of the Evanston zoning code that the expansion should be treated as an amendment to an existing special-use approval (staff cited Section 6-10-2-3 and Section 6-3-5 of the Evanston Zoning Code). Staff recommended approval and listed four standard conditions in the packet; Powell said she accepted those recommendations.
During deliberations, the commission reviewed the nine special-use standards required by code and found them met for this application. Commissioners asked logistical questions about drop-off and circulation; Powell said pick-up and drop-off occur in the existing rear parking lot and use the back entrance off Dodge Street.
The commission’s motion, made and seconded during the hearing, directed staff to forward a positive recommendation on case 25 ZMJV-0006 (1905–1909 Howard Street) to City Council, including the four department recommendations listed in the staff packet. The roll-call vote recorded Commissioners Berlin, Johnson, Mahbadi, Mangum, Madinchave, Puktau and Chair Lindwall as voting yes; the motion passed 7–0.
With the commission’s recommendation, the proposal will next go to City Council for final action. Staff will carry the listed conditions forward to any council hearing and assist the applicant with next steps.
