The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a rezoning to a planned unit development and an associated preliminary development plan that will allow a childcare operation and a congregation to occupy the former church building at 1316 South Osage Street (case 2512503).

Staff described the site as an approximately 19,000-square-foot building on a multiple-lot property in an established single-family neighborhood. Planning staff said the daycare — Renders Hope day school and day care — would use about 3,400 square feet inside the existing structure for seven classrooms serving up to 49 students, with four classrooms upstairs and three in the basement. Staff said there is no new building footprint anticipated beyond a fenced outdoor play area; utilities and storm-shelter space are present on site.

Planning staff recommended approval with conditions: a 6-foot solid fence to enclose a roughly 2,500-square-foot outdoor play area on the northeast side of the lot, installation of a van-accessible handicap parking space with signage, and review of the 1,200-square-foot kitchen by the health department as part of building permits. Staff noted the parking area currently contains about 109 parking spaces, including seven handicapped spaces; staff said two of those spaces could be converted to provide a van-accessible space if needed.

Applicant Michael Jones said, “we are a church, nonprofit church,” and explained the congregation is under a lease-purchase contract to acquire the property and will move the congregation there and operate a preschool program. Jones described the preschool’s focus as serving children displaced by homelessness and foster care and said the program would enroll children ages 0 to 5, with a contract for 49 students.

A neighbor, David Bailey of 1331 South Osage, spoke in opposition, raising concerns about daytime traffic, noise from an outdoor play area across the street from his home, and security on the site. Bailey said the parcel had been a recurring site of nuisance activity in the past and expressed concern that rezoning for childcare could allow future profit-driven businesses if ownership changed.

In response, the applicant said the congregation has already begun property cleanup, plans to install cameras and improved lighting, has contracted with a tow company to remove abandoned vehicles, and intends hours for the daycare to be 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a one-hour midday outdoor play period. The applicant said security cameras and motion-detection lighting would be installed and that the fence location would provide substantial spacing from the street and neighboring houses.

Commissioner Ashbaugh moved to approve the rezoning and preliminary plan with staff recommendations and to add a condition directing staff to include a lighting recommendation; the amendment passed on a voice vote and the final motion passed on a 6-0 roll call.

The rezoning authorizes the child-care use that permits more than 20 children at the site and imposes the listed conditions; building permits, health-department review of the kitchen, and sign and lighting plans will be subject to separate permit review.