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Commission approves conditional-use for dual-site childcare on West Street with modified parking conditions
Summary
A conditional-use permit allowing a childcare center at 4959 and 4965 West Street was approved July 17 after commissioners removed an immediate parking-improvement condition and required the property owner to complete upgrades if the tenant changes.
The Forest Park Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit July 17 for a childcare operation at 4959 and 4965 West Street, allowing infant, toddler and preschool care on two adjacent structures, but members altered staff's recommended parking condition.
Planning and Community Development Director Nicole Dozier described the proposal, CASE-2025-03, saying the applicant seeks approval to operate a childcare center serving children from 6 weeks to 12 years old. The proposal would use the building at 4959 West Street for infants and toddlers (6 weeks to 2 years) and 4965 West Street for preschool and after-school care. Proposed hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dozier noted the site previously housed a childcare center under prior ownership.
Staff recommended approval with conditions including compliance with the City of Forest Park zoning ordinance and parking standards (section 8-890), paved and striped parking spaces, and a one curb cut with one-way circulation to improve vehicle flow on the compact site. Dozier said the parking and circulation changes were recommended because of the site's size and anticipated drop-off/pick-up activity.
Applicant Brianna Jackson (4345 Savannah Drive, Atlanta) said she would work with the landlord to address parking concerns. Several commissioners and members of the public questioned whether it was fair to require immediate, potentially costly parking upgrades of a new tenant. After discussion the commission voted to remove the staff-recommended immediate parking-condition (Condition 1) from the approval and to modify Condition 2 so that, if the applicant ceases operation and a new tenant seeks to occupy the site, the property owner must install the required parking and circulation improvements before a new conditional use is granted.
The commission approved the conditional-use permit with those modifications. Staff will work with the applicant and property owner on a timetable and permit requirements for the agreed improvements; if the tenant changes, the owner will be responsible for completing the full parking upgrades before a new operator may open.
