Commission approves special permit for 12-child day care at 131 Providence Street with van-transport condition

The Commission on the City Plan on May 20 approved a special permit allowing an existing office at 131 Providence Street to be used as a child care center, subject to conditions that make the operator’s dedicated transportation service essential to the operation.

The applicant, Wilmer Castillo, told commissioners the proposal seeks to use the existing First-Floor office for a small child care operation. “This application is requesting to use the existing office space as a child care center,” Castillo said during the public hearing. The application requested capacity for 12 children with two full‑time employees and described a 15‑passenger van that the operator will use to transport children for pickup and drop‑off rather than encouraging parent parking in the rear right‑of‑way.

Why it matters: the property sits in a neighborhood commercial zone adjacent to Magnet Elementary School and the Taffyville Volunteer Fire Department. The commission conditioned approval on the van-based transportation plan because the rear access easement is only 12 feet wide, allows only one-way vehicle movement, and does not safely accommodate two-way traffic or routine parent drop-off.

Key details and conditions

- Capacity and staffing: Applicant projected 12 children and two full-time employees; the operator said volunteers would rotate as needed. Castillo told the commission the operator planned to serve primarily infants and very young children, and that licensing details would be finalized with the state licensing division before the operator applies for a child-care license.

- Transportation plan: The applicant will operate a 15‑passenger van (stated capacity) to pick up children from homes and return them to the site. Castillo said pickup would begin about 6:30 a.m. with drop‑offs between about 7:00 and 7:30 a.m.; afternoon drop‑off would occur roughly 4:30–5:30 p.m. Commissioners and staff repeatedly emphasized that the permit relied on the van transport approach: “The big key thing is the van. It doesn't work without the van,” a staff member summarized during the hearing.

- Site and access work: The operator will add an ADA ramp and make an ADA bathroom available inside the existing building. The plan proposes paving only the ADA parking space required at the rear; most of the rear area will remain gravel. The applicant told the commission staff parking behind the building will be reserved for employees.

- Waste and site maintenance: Commissioners required the operator to use rolling carts for trash and recycling rather than a permanent dumpster and to store carts at the side of the building so they are not left out beyond collection day.

- Waivers and exhibits: The commission granted waivers for the bond estimate, drainage calculations, elevations and signage and accepted a package of application materials and plan revisions submitted between November 2024 and May 2025 (staff exhibit list on the record).

Licensing and follow-up

Staff noted the applicant must complete licensing with the state child-care licensing division before operating and that the commission’s approval is conditioned on the van transportation and the other conditions (no dumpster, trash rolling carts, ADA improvements and resolution of city engineer comments). The commission also recommended staff ask the police department to consider a 15‑minute pickup/drop‑off space in front of the building, though it did not make that a mandatory condition because traffic signage is controlled by the traffic authority.

Vote and administrative items

Commissioner Kathy Wazinko moved to approve the special permit with the conditions listed in staff memos and the transportation requirement; Ella seconded. The commission voted unanimously in favor.

Ending

The applicant thanked the commission and said the service would fill a local need for infant care and transportation for families. Staff will verify final licensing, ensure the applicant’s operational conditions are recorded, and track city‑engineer follow‑up items.