Commission recommends special permit for Ascension Lutheran Church day care building at 2211 Maynard Avenue

On Jan. 14 the Waterloo Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a special permit for a 5,252-square-foot accessory daycare building for Ascension Lutheran Church at 2211 Maynard Avenue, with a planned 2,176-square-foot addition in the future.

Planning staff member Gautman said the property is zoned R2 (one- and two-family residence district) and that religious facilities may operate accessory daycares by special permit. Gautman said the proposed daycare will serve 3-year-olds and operate a nature preschool program; the church provided a signed letter stating the daycare and structure are accessory and incidental to the religious facility and that there is no intention to split off that portion of the property without rezoning.

Dan Levi of Levi Architecture thanked staff for assistance and said technical issues such as stormwater detention had been addressed in reviews. Jamie Knudson, city engineer, told the commission the detention basin will belong to the church and must be maintained to city ordinance standards. Gautman said parking requirements for daycare—one space for each two employees on the maximum shift plus one space per 15 attendees—are met by the church—s combined parking supply; the site plan shows three regular and one handicap space on the daycare lot plus additional parking on the existing church lot.

Commissioner Ewing moved to recommend approval citing the use as accessory to the religious facility, consistency with the future land use map and comprehensive plan, and no apparent traffic or surrounding-use impacts; Commissioner Schaeffer seconded and the commission voted to recommend approval by voice vote. The staff recommendation included final site-plan and technical-review conditions.