Planning Commission approves home-occupation permit for swimming lessons at 188 West Parkway Drive

The Alpine City Planning Commission on May 20 approved a home-occupation permit to allow swimming lessons at 188 West Parkway Drive, near Burgess Park, after a brief staff presentation and discussion of conditions.

City staff planner Ryan Robinson told the commission that applicants Katie Edwards and Jen Wadsworth applied to offer swim lessons at Wadsworth’s home. Robinson said staff reviewed the application under the city’s home-occupation code and recommended conditions including staggered class start times, parking safeguards and adherence to the code allowance that permits one nonresident worker to assist with the business. Robinson said the applicants initially proposed lessons lasting 30 minutes, Monday through Thursday, and that staff had understood the program would run two to three weeks during the summer.

Planning Commission member Greg Butterfield moved to approve the permit with modifications to allow lessons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and to extend the authorized period through August of ’25; Planning Commission member Michelle Schirmer seconded. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor. The motion approved the permit and kept staff’s recommended conditions in place, including the recommended spacing between classes and parking conditions.

Commission discussion focused on operational details and potential neighbor impacts. Commissioners asked whether applicants had notified nearby residents; Robinson said staff was not aware of formal neighborhood outreach and that the city became aware of the lessons after code-compliance staff found advertising signs. Commissioners also discussed whether the recommended 30-minute minimum between class start times should be reduced to 15 minutes. Robinson noted staff could accept a 15-minute interval in some cases but the motion left the 30-minute spacing as a condition. Commissioners raised no safety concerns tied to the city’s liability; Robinson said liability would rest with the operators and that the packet included a letter supporting the applicants’ preparedness.

The commission directed staff to record the motion and follow up with the applicants to finalize permit language and notify them of the conditions and approved time frame. The commission did not take any additional actions related to permits, and no public hearing was required for this conditional home-occupation approval.

City staff will finalize the permit conditions and notify the applicants of the approved schedule and operational limits.