Planning commission backs rezoning at 910 North Liberty to allow daycare despite floodplain concerns

The Harrisonburg Planning Commission voted Sept. 10 to forward a favorable recommendation to city council for a rezoning request at 910 North Liberty Street that would allow Little Roots Early Learning Center to operate in the existing Anacera Veterinary Center building.

City planning staff said the 26,800-square-foot parcel is currently zoned M-1 (general industrial) and that the requested B-2C (general business, conditional) zoning “conforms to the comprehensive plan’s land use guide.” Staff recommended approval while explicitly noting floodplain and site-access concerns.

A staff presentation described the single-story building as about 2,300 square feet and said the applicant intends to remodel it for a maximum licensed capacity of 30 children ranging from 12 weeks to 6 years, operating Monday–Friday roughly 6:45 a.m.–6 p.m. The staff report stated the property and building are in the mapped floodplain and that “the top of the bottom floor is not fully elevated above the base flood…