Sandy planning commission narrowly OKs home daycare on Hidden Circle after neighbors raise traffic, noise and safety concerns

The Sandy City Planning Commission on May 15 approved a conditional-use permit allowing a home-based Category 2 daycare known as Kenny Kids to operate at 11617 South Hidden Circle, after neighbors described repeated traffic, noise and safety problems near the cul-de-sac.

The permit passed 4-1 after an earlier vote failed 3-2. Commissioners approved the permit with five staff conditions plus additional requirements added by the commission: a written traffic plan developed with staff, client notification of the traffic rules, and a prohibition on vehicle backing maneuvers across the curb during pick-up and drop-off.

Why it matters: Neighbors argued the existing operation already produces many vehicle movements and disruptive noise on a quiet cul-de-sac. The added conditions aim to bring the provider into compliance with Sandy City rules for Category 2 home occupations while giving neighbors a mechanism to request review if conditions are breached.

Details of the proposal and debate

Applicant Soraya Schmickrath told the commission she has operated childcare at the address since 2016 and sought to move from a Category 1 (by-right) business license to Category 2 to reflect a higher, more flexible “drop-in” model. Schmickrath said she typically handled up to 12 unique children per day, with as many as eight children on site at one time during the period she believed was allowed under Category 1. She said she has been retraining staff and families on curbside procedures and tracking check-ins and check-outs.

Multiple neighbors testified that traffic and noise have worsened. Donald Dana, whose property backs the daycare, said toys and other debris regularly cross the shared fence and that noise had interrupted his wife’s rest periods. Several nearby residents — including Shauna Soles (11622 Hidden Circle), Jady Jensen (11636 Hidden Circle), Alex Jensen (11636 Hidden Circle), and Susie Solast Moody (address on Hidden Circle) — described repeated vehicle arrivals and departures, parked cars obstructing sightlines, children running into the street, and concerns about private yard privacy and pool safety.

Transportation and enforcement analysis

Ivan Hooper, Sandy City transportation engineer, explained how the code counts trips and stops: each curbside arrival or departure is considered a “stop,” and each stop generates two trips (in and out). He said doubling from a smaller home operation to Category 2 could increase one-way trips but that the absolute trip numbers were not unusually large for a residential cul-de-sac. City engineer Brittney Ward provided a baseline: an average single-family home generates roughly 11 trips per day; eight houses on the cul-de-sac therefore could generate roughly 90 trips daily, consistent with a resident’s count. Under Sandy code, Category 2 allows up to 24 stops per day (equivalent to about 48 one-way trips).

Neighbors pressed commissioners on safety and quality-of-life issues. Susie Solast Moody summarized: “I appreciate peace and quiet when I go home from a day at work. The gate at my pool is open constantly during pick-ups and drop-offs; kids run into the cul-de-sac, and cars back out in ways that feel unsafe.” Holly Taylor, a neighbor at 11609 Hidden Circle, said the provider’s online listings advertising drop-in service raised concerns because it can bring unfamiliar drivers to the neighborhood.

Legal and procedural points

City attorney Darien Alcorn advised the commission that conditional-use permits are for uses that can be allowed if their detrimental impacts are reasonably mitigated by conditions; denial is appropriate only if impacts cannot be mitigated by reasonable conditions. Commissioners discussed options to add enforceable conditions rather than deny the request outright.

Outcome and conditions

The commission’s final, successful motion approved the Category 2 home occupation conditional-use permit with the staff’s five conditions plus the commission’s additions: (1) applicant to develop and file a written traffic plan with staff that avoids reversing maneuvers in the cul-de-sac (no backing up across the curb); (2) the applicant must provide the traffic plan to all clients and staff and require compliance; (3) the permit is subject to periodic staff review and may be re-evaluated on legitimate neighborhood complaint about noise, traffic or noncompliance; (4) operation must conform to the limits in Sandy City code (no more than 16 children at one time; up to 18 children per day as allowed by code); (5) employees must avoid long-term parking in neighbor driveways; and (6) general code compliance (noise ordinance, business licensing, etc.).

Commissioners and votes

An initial motion to approve the permit failed on a 3-2 vote. After discussion and the addition of the conditions above, the second motion passed 4-1. The record on the final vote: Danny Schoenfeld — yes; Dave Bromley — yes; Steve Wrigley — yes; Craig Kidderman — no; Ron Mortimer — yes.

What happens next

Staff said they will monitor compliance and investigate legitimate complaints; the permit can be reviewed or revoked if conditions are violated. The commission encouraged neighbors to document incidents (dates, times, photos) for staff review.

Ending

The commission’s conditions attempt to balance a licensed childcare provider’s expansion with the cul-de-sac neighbors’ safety and privacy concerns. The permit brings the operation formally into the category of a regulated home occupation subject to written conditions and staff review.