Planning commission approves conditional-use permit for Little Blossom Montessori to expand preschool to 12 children

The Pleasant Grove Planning Commission on Sept. 11 approved a conditional-use permit for Little Blossom Montessori Academy to expand a preschool/daycare at 985 North 100 East in an R‑1‑8 single‑family residential zone.

Staff planner Jacob Hawkins summarized the request as "a request for a conditional use permit to allow preschool at 985 North 100 East," and said the applicant, Janessa Rogers, already holds a business license for six or fewer children and seeks to expand to up to 12 children, ages 3–6. The proposed schedule is a morning class from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and an afternoon class from 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Activities would use the family room and basement bathroom, and brief supervised outdoor play in a fenced backyard.

Staff told the commission that daycares are permitted as a major home occupation for six or fewer children and that a conditional‑use permit is required when more than six children attend (citing local code chapter 10‑15‑27). Hawkins said staff finds the proposal complies with minimum code requirements and recommended approval with conditions including that no on‑street parking is permitted, required state and local licenses be obtained and maintained, that activities held in the rear yard be fenced, and that one nonresident employee is permitted under the home‑occupation rules when applicable. Hawkins also noted the applicant paved an off‑street area south of the house to accommodate drop‑off and pick‑up and reduce curbside parking on 100 East, which the staff presentation said is a high‑traffic collector-style street.

Commissioners discussed safety and traffic timing for the afternoon session, which roughly overlaps nearby junior high dismissal. One commissioner asked whether a condition could prohibit left turns when leaving the property in the afternoon; staff replied such a condition could be added but enforcement would be challenging and, if breached, could provide grounds to revoke the business license. Commissioners emphasized that enforcement would fall to staff and code enforcement if conditions were violated.

Commissioner Butler moved to approve Janessa Rogers' conditional‑use permit request adopting the staff exhibits, conditions and findings as modified to prohibit on‑street parking, require all licenses and home‑occupation conditions be met subject to sections 10‑21‑4 and 10‑15‑27, allow rear‑yard activities only within a fenced area, permit one nonresident employee when required, and require final planning, engineering and fire department approvals. Commissioner Martineau seconded. The motion carried.

The approval allows the provider to proceed with the expansion under the stated conditions; the applicant was not present at the hearing. The commission closed public comment on the item before deliberations.