Florence City BZA denies request for large in‑home childcare at 2101 Damon Drive

The Florence City Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request for a special‑exception permit to operate a large in‑home childcare facility at 2101 Damon Drive during its public hearing.

City staff told the board the property is in Neighborhood Conservation Zoning District 15, where small in‑home childcare (six or fewer children) is permitted by right but large in‑home childcare (7–12 children) requires a special exception. Staff explained the permit is contingent on meeting licensing standards of the state Department of Social Services and local conditions meant to avoid undue traffic, parking or noise impacts.

Neighbors who spoke at the hearing said traffic speeds, limited sight lines and driveway constraints would make afternoon drop‑off and pick‑up unsafe. "We don't want the additional traffic, the additional people from other neighborhoods coming to drop off their children," said Fernando Pena, a nearby resident. Taylor Brooch said her primary concern was child safety because drivers frequently exceed the posted speed: "people were constantly doing, like, 40 miles an hour down that street." Retired Florence police traffic sergeant Kim Stroud told the board that a traffic trailer and enforcement had recorded very high speeds and described a history of cut‑through traffic in the area: "The fastest speed I had was 85 miles an hour," he said.

Applicant Faith Perry said she already holds a home occupation permit for a small childcare operation and sought to expand into an after‑school program serving children ages 4–12 between 3 and 7 p.m. Perry described her background in early childhood education and said she follows Department of Social Services rules on staffing ratios: "If you have 4 children and the majority of the children are 4 years old, you can have 17 children to 1 person," she told the board while explaining how ratios vary by age. Perry also said her driveway can accommodate multiple vehicles and that outdoor play would be supervised in the backyard.

Board members discussed alternatives and asked staff whether the board could add conditions if it approved the special exception. The chair moved to deny the permit; Miss Moses seconded. After members voted, the chair summarized the decision and addressed Perry directly: "This is just the wrong place at the wrong time," and advised pursuing another location. The motion carried; the special exception was denied.

Because this was a quasi‑judicial hearing, the chair reminded attendees that appeals would go to circuit court.

Votes at a glance: Denial of special exception to allow a large in‑home childcare at 2101 Damon Drive — motion to deny made by the chair, seconded by Miss Moses; outcome: denied.