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Conway council clears first readings of UDO changes to define and ease limited childcare and educational uses
Summary
Council approved first readings of amendments to the unified development ordinance to better define "educational facilities" and to create new, less-restrictive rules for home-based family and group child care, aligning local rules with state categories and adding general safety and parking standards.
The Conway City Council on Aug. 18 approved first readings of two Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments: one revising the definition and conditional-use standards for educational facilities and another updating requirements for day-care facilities and certain limited, state-exempt home-based childcare.
Planning staff said the educational-facility amendment responds to recent interest from Horry County Schools to repurpose the former Whittemore Park Middle School for adult education, limited childcare, therapeutic learning and JROTC programs. The amendment revises the city’s definition of an "educational facility" and tightens conditional-use criteria to describe allowed functions and protect nearby residential areas; planning commission and staff recommended approval.
A separate UDO amendment addresses limited childcare offerings that the State of South Carolina considers legally exempt from licensing (for example, operations under four hours per day, occasional schedules or fewer than a threshold number of children). Staff reviewed state law and practices elsewhere in South Carolina and proposed allowing family childcare (up to six children) in any residential district and group childcare (7–12 children) as a conditional use in certain districts, with requirements for residency of the operator, hours of operation, prohibition on signage and no overnight care. The amendment also includes parking requirements and a requirement for a designated on-site area for safe loading and unloading at commercial locations.
Council members expressed concern about safety and enforcement; staff said operators would be required to comply with all federal, state and local laws and that the owner/operator would be responsible for compliance. The council’s motion to approve first readings passed unanimously.
Next steps: Planning commission held public hearings in August and recommended the amendments; final readings will return to council for adoption and staff said they will continue to develop administrative processes for applying and monitoring compliance.
