Applicant who operated without license seeks special exception to run daycare home at 1506 North 13th

Yolinda Arias told the Reading Zoning Hearing Board on Jan. 8 that she seeks a special-exception approval to operate a daycare home at 1506 North 13th Street and, in the alternative, a variance for off-street parking and a variance of a zoning administrator's determination that a daycare is not permitted in the zoning district.

Arias said she previously held a license at another address and moved the business to the current property without first obtaining a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services license for that location. At the hearing staff and counsel recorded that an inspection by state child-welfare authorities, triggered by complaints, found the home at one point caring for as many as 21 children; Arias said she did not consistently have that many and that she was in the process of applying for licensure. On the record she told the board she proposes to care for 13 children if the board grants the requested approvals.

Arias testified that hours of operation would be early morning through evening (the transcript records "6 to 6" Monday through Friday and parts of Saturday) and that the daycare activities would be limited to the first floor and the basement. She told the board she provides food and also accepts food parents supply. Staff questioned square footage and safety standards; Arias said she had provided some measurements to the office.

City staff and the board flagged multiple compliance items. The zoning officer and staff said the applicant must provide a clear plan for where children will be dropped off and picked up; the zoning officer noted the applicant will need to demonstrate code compliance and recommended a full fire inspection and building-code review because the state inspection report cited safety violations. A neighbor and a client gave testimony in support: Elizabeth Almanzar said she uses Arias for childcare and praised her availability and care.

The board closed the evidentiary portion of the hearing; no vote was taken. Board members told parties a written decision would be issued at the February 2025 hearing and mailed to the parties. Staff advised the applicant to address the state inspection findings and to submit the required code and fire-safety documentation.