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Council approves conditional-use permit for Right Start in-home daycare at 1800 Walden Drive
Summary
After extended public comment both supporting and opposing the move, the Monticello City Council approved a conditional-use permit allowing Right Start Preschool to operate at a new Walden Drive address; the planning and zoning board had recommended approval.
The Monticello City Council voted Feb. 24 to approve a conditional-use permit allowing the Right Start in-home daycare to operate at 1800 Walden Drive.
Owner Tana Moller told the council she is a licensed early-childhood educator and the only licensed group daycare in Piatt County, and she asked the council to approve the permit so she can move her program to the new address. “I ask for you to support in improving this permit so that I can continue providing a much needed service to families in Monticello,” Moller said during public comment.
The council heard lengthy public comment from neighbors on Walden Drive who opposed the move on traffic, safety and liability grounds. Speakers said the street is a dead-end lane with blind curves, no sidewalks and a steep riverbank behind backyards that neighborhood residents called an “attractive nuisance.” Several neighbors presented a petition signed by every property owner on Walden Drive asking the council to deny the permit. “There’s an extreme risk that a preschool child could end up outside of the preschool fence or on our properties and fall down the steep bank,” one neighbor said.
Supporters of Right Start — including current and former parents — described staggered drop-off and pickup times, low peak vehicle counts and the program’s licensing and safety record. Several written letters read at the meeting said the program typically operates with “at most 8 to 10” children and that drop-offs are staggered to avoid congestion. Don Wright, who said he lives with the owner’s family, said he has observed staggered arrivals and that the program has never had an incident.
City staff summarized the PZB review and public-hearing record. The zoning ordinance allows home-based businesses with a conditional-use permit where appropriate; staff said notices were sent to adjacent property owners and that the PZB voted to approve the conditional-use permit and forward a recommendation to the council.
During council deliberations members noted the community’s childcare shortage and the program’s existing operations at 703 Adams Street. On a roll-call vote the council-approved the conditional-use permit; Miss Lively recorded a “no” vote while the remaining members voted “yes.” City staff said the permit requires compliance with state licensing (Illinois Department of Children and Family Services) and applicable zoning conditions.
The council’s approval allows the Right Start to proceed with local approvals; any licensing and safety inspections required by DCFS and the fire marshal remain prerequisites to full operation at the new address.
