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City Council denies special land use for 12-child family daycare at 1818 Mortenson
Summary
The Berkeley City Council voted to deny a special land use request that would have expanded Little Seedlings of Berkeley from six to up to 12 children at a corner house on Mortenson, citing concerns about parking and public safety protections.
The Berkeley City Council voted to deny a special land use request on March 3 that would have allowed a family daycare at 1818 Mortenson to expand from six to as many as 12 children.
The council’s decision follows a lengthy hearing that included presentations by city staff, the applicant and her attorney, and multiple neighbors. The council majority found that the application did not meet the special-land-use standard requiring that the proposed use be designed so that public health, safety and welfare are protected.
City planning staff described the request as a “brand new application” after a similar proposal was denied previously; staff noted the State of Michigan treats group home child care as a residential use but said the council must find that local special-use standards are satisfied. Director Kaplansky told the council the applicant offered two conditions with the new application: limiting all pickups and drop‑offs to Princeton, and restricting…
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