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Commission hears first workshop for Davila Smith Family Day Home; VDOT sight‑distance, septic and trip counts discussed
Summary
Applicants Kelsey Smith and Ian Davila sought a special-use permit to operate a family day home at 401 Burntree Way; staff and commissioners emphasized VDOT sight-line and entrance requirements and the health and Department of Education licensing limits that affect maximum enrollment and entrance classification.
Kelsey Smith and Ian Davila presented a first-workshop special-use permit application to operate a family day home at 401 Burntree Way, a 3.5‑acre property zoned R‑1, planning staff reported.
Alan (staff member) told the commission the application packet was complete and that the building official had determined no special building upgrades were needed for the family day‑home use; however, VDOT and the health department raised entrance and on‑site wastewater questions. "The easement's only 20 feet wide," Alan said, and VDOT requires sight‑distance demonstration and an entrance that meets the low‑volume commercial entrance standard for the proposed trip count.
Trip counts and enrollment: The Department of Education permits family day homes with up to 12 children in some circumstances, but staff explained that VDOT’s driveway trip formulas can force a lower local cap to preserve a residential or low‑volume entrance. "The Department of Education caps that at 12 children, but because of the trip count, they would have to limit their use to 10, maximum of 10 children, to be able to hit a low volume commercial entrance," Alan said. The applicants said they plan to start with six children and would expand staff and enrollment later if needed and if agency approvals allow.
Health and licensing: Applicants are actively working with the health department on soils and septic‑related issues and with VDOT on possible additional width or easement arrangements with neighbors. The commission suggested applicants contact neighbors early because increased drop‑off/pick‑up traffic could affect adjoining properties.
Next steps: Staff will collect VDOT’s formal recommendation and the health‑department findings and include them in the next packet; the commission expects the applicants to return for a second workshop with those agency responses and a more detailed site entrance plan.
Ending: Commissioners expressed support for additional daycare capacity in the county but emphasized VDOT and health approvals are necessary before a permit could be authorized.
