Pittsburg commission approves conditional use permit for in‑home daycare at 1609 Woodland Terrace

The City of Pittsburg Commission on Jan. 14, 2025 approved a conditional use permit allowing an in‑home daycare to operate at 1609 Woodland Terrace after extensive public comment and a Planning & Zoning Board recommendation to approve by a 4–2 vote.

The permit will let resident Sheena Cosman operate a state‑licensed in‑home childcare business from her Woodland Terrace home. Cosman told the commission she has a large, fenced yard and off‑street parking; she said she would care for up to 10 children under her KDHE license, three of whom are currently her own, which she said would leave seven non‑family slots. Cosman said she will not operate ‘‘24 hours a day, 7 days a week’’ and stated proposed hours of operation are Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The nut graf: The decision follows a contested public comment period in which neighbors and childcare advocates offered sharply divergent views on traffic, property values and neighborhood character. Licensing specialists and statewide childcare advocates told the commission that in‑home care is highly regulated, that the provider had passed inspections and that Pittsburg faces a countywide shortage of childcare slots.

Commission discussion and staff comments Commission staff reported the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of the conditional use permit by a 4–2 vote with one member absent. Jay Byers, deputy city manager, confirmed the applicant’s temporary state license had been extended to March 31, 2025; a KDHE licensing specialist present said Cosman’s KDHE license became effective Oct. 1, 2024 and that she had completed required training and inspections.

Commissioners asked about hours, capacity and enforcement. Commissioners were told that the state, not the city, regulates license capacity and infant‑to‑care ratios; any change above the licensed 10‑child capacity would require KDHE approval. Staff said state inspectors and a fire marshal had visited the residence during the licensing process.

Public comment More than a dozen speakers addressed the proposal. Supporters included neighbors who said the driveway and yard can accommodate drop‑off, representatives from Child Care Aware of Kansas and Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas who presented county‑level data showing a child care slot shortage in Crawford County, and licensed providers who described typical daily operations and safety practices.

Opponents and concerned neighbors raised traffic and narrow road concerns, potential effects on property values, and objections to how the issue played out on social media. One resident, citing appraisal practice terminology, argued an in‑home business could cause ‘‘economic obsolescence’’ for nearby properties; city staff later told commissioners the county treasurer had indicated that property‑value impacts are difficult to prove.

Action and outcome Commissioners moved and seconded approval; the motion passed by voice vote and the mayor declared the motion carried. The formal action recorded in the meeting minutes is approval of the conditional use permit to allow an in‑home daycare at 1609 Woodland Terrace.

What happens next The permit allows the provider to operate under the conditions reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Board and the commission. Any change in licensed capacity or other state license conditions would require KDHE action. The city retains authority over any code or conditional‑use compliance matters identified under the permit conditions.

Ending: The commission’s approval follows months of review by planning and licensing bodies and a lengthy public comment period on Jan. 14. The applicant remains subject to state licensing rules and local permit conditions as she begins operations.