Florence City neighbors raise child-safety and traffic concerns over in-home daycare on Damon Drive

Neighbors at a Florence City public hearing said an in-home daycare on Damon Drive creates child-safety and traffic risks, citing high speeds on the street, limited driveway space for drop-off and an unfenced backyard pool.

The concerns emerged during public comment, when several residents described seeing vehicles use Damon Drive as a cut-through and reported frequent speeding. "People are constantly doing, like, 40 miles an hour down that street," said Taylor Brooch, a resident, adding that a child chasing a ball could run into the roadway "in a split second." Brooch also said driveway backup and multiple vehicles could create chaotic conditions during pickup and drop-off.

Laura Snowden, a resident, said her sister — who she identified as a highway patrol officer — ran radar in the neighborhood and recorded about 50 drivers exceeding the posted 30 mph limit, with "more than half" going roughly 15 mph over the limit. "That is our biggest concern is cut throughs," Snowden said, and she noted the neighborhood lacks sidewalks and that a cat in her yard had been killed by a vehicle.

Kim Stroud, who described himself as a retired Florence police traffic sergeant, said he deployed a traffic trailer and later placed two police motorcycles in the subdivision to enforce speed limits. "Fastest speed I had was 85 miles an hour," Stroud said, and he described once-high ticketing rates that later faded when enforcement was absent. Stroud said he shares a back fence with the applicant and said he was aware of a backyard pool; he expressed concern about supervision if the location were to host multiple children. "With 1 employee and as it stands right now possibly up to 6 if not more up to 12 with just 1 adult supervising, I do have some concerns," he said.

Julian Stewart, a Walters Pond resident, described visibility problems when exiting onto Damon Drive and said parked vehicles used for pickup and drop-off can create a blind spot at the intersection with Cloisters Drive. "They're running 35 to 40 miles an hour easily," Stewart said of drivers on Damon.

John Eckenstein questioned how many cars could fit in the driveway, noting photos and the applicant's claim that 6 to 8 cars could be accommodated would be "tight." City staff asked witnesses to confirm oaths for public testimony; no formal permit decision or vote appears in the provided transcript excerpt.

Speakers and residents also mentioned an unfenced pool in the applicant's backyard and a neighboring property with an unfenced pool; multiple speakers said they had not filed formal complaints about current operation but opposed expansion citing safety risks. Several commenters suggested the Department of Social Services would have oversight responsibilities for in-home childcare operations; city staff also asked clarifying questions during public comment.

No formal action, permit approval or vote was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. The public remarks focused on traffic speed and sight-line hazards, driveway capacity for drop-off, sufficiency of adult supervision for the number of children referenced by witnesses, and concerns about an unfenced pool in the backyard.