Tooele Planning Commission approves conditional-use permit for home daycare serving 8–16 children

The Tooele City Planning Commission voted 7–0 on June 25 to approve a conditional-use permit allowing Happy Place Daycare to operate a home-based childcare serving eight to 16 children at a single-family residence.

The permit, application number 2025056, was approved based on findings and the single condition in the staff report dated June 19, 2025 that the operator must instruct clients not to block mailboxes or neighbor driveway approaches and must enforce parking rules as needed.

The decision matters because home daycares serving eight to 16 children require Planning Commission approval under Tooele City ordinances; commissioners and staff said the condition gives the city an enforcement mechanism if neighborhood parking or access problems arise.

Planning staff described the 0.2-acre property shown in the meeting packet as located immediately south of 1000 North and flagged it as R-1 residential. Staff said the property’s driveway can hold three cars and that the frontage can accommodate roughly three additional vehicles; the applicant told commissioners she intends to add two parking spaces alongside the house and to pave an area to create additional off-street parking. Staff also noted the backyard is enclosed with a six-foot solid vinyl fence.

A resident who identified herself only as Pat said she and her household of 20 years oppose locating a home-based business in the neighborhood and listed concerns about staggered drop-off creating multiple trips during the day, parking congestion, snow and ice liabilities, trash pickup access, and outdoor noise. Pat also said the photograph in the packet did not reflect the current condition of the property and asked whether the applicant would maintain the exterior and adjacent sidewalk area used by Middle Canyon students.

Applicant Tina Will told the commission she had lived in the house about three-and-a-half weeks, that contractors were improving the exterior, and that she plans to add two parking spaces and pave an area from the sidewalk to increase off-street parking. Will said the backyard had been graded and would receive new sod, that gates and other safety measures were in place, and that she limits outdoor playtimes to short periods during the day. Will said she has previously been licensed for 16 children in Arkansas, that she plans to seek city licensing and to participate in the food program, and that she provides a parent handbook describing schedules and drop-off rules.

Staff said notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the site and that two written comments were received — one from Haley Gonzales, a property owner south of the site, and one from Patrick Sierra — both expressing concerns about a home-based business at the location. The staff recommendation forwarded to the commission included the single enforceable condition about parking behavior.

Commissioner Proctor moved to approve the conditional-use permit per the staff findings and conditions; Commissioner Hamilton seconded. Commissioners Hammer, Proctor, Sloan, Hamilton, Jensen, Anderson and Chair Commissioner Robinson all voted aye, and the motion passed 7–0.

The transcript shows two different street numbers for the property: staff materials and the packet referenced 647 East 908 North, while the motion stated 647 East 980 North. The commission record approved application number 2025056; the record should be consulted to confirm the correct street number in public files.

The commission closed the public hearing after the applicant’s remarks and moved on to other business.