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Aberdeen council advances ordinance to speed home daycare approvals
Summary
The Aberdeen City Council gave first reading to an ordinance that would let staff grant administrative exceptions for home daycares after inspections, rather than routing every request to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
Aberdeen, S.D. — The Aberdeen City Council on Monday gave first reading to an ordinance (25-07-01) that would allow administrative approval of home-daycare zoning exceptions after city inspections, instead of requiring each application to go to the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Councilman Ronayne moved to approve and Councilman Ward seconded; the motion passed on a roll-call vote.
City staff told the council the change is intended to shorten a process that can currently take a month or more depending on scheduling with the zoning board. Ken, a city staff member, said the city will inspect properties with a building official and the fire marshal before issuing an administrative exception and will “address any other zoning concerns with the property.” He added, “Staff recommends approval.”
The ordinance keeps existing enforcement tools in place: staff said an administrative exception would carry the same legal weight as a special exception and could be revoked following a hearing and a finding by the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Daycare providers must still hold the city licensing required of providers; licensing action remains a separate enforcement path if problems arise.
Supporters said the streamlining is intended to remove a scheduling barrier that has slowed the opening of new home daycares in Aberdeen. Council members noted the number of new home daycares has declined in recent years and said reducing administrative delays could encourage more providers to operate.
The ordinance received a roll-call vote on first reading and passed; the council will proceed with later readings as required by city code.
The city clerk recorded the first-reading vote as unanimous among members present. The measure will return for additional readings before final adoption.
