Planning commission approves in‑home preschool permit for 730 East 100 North

The Linden City Planning Commission on Sept. 9 unanimously approved a conditional-use permit allowing ABC Building Blocks Preschool LLC to operate an in‑home preschool at 730 East 100 North.

Staff presented the proposal and said the applicants plan to use 269.5 square feet in the home basement for classrooms and drop‑off and pick‑up would occur between about 9 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Britney Wilde, planning staff, told the commission the proposal met Linden City code requirements except for a potential traffic concern: “The one concern that staff has is the amount of traffic that this area will be seeing during those hours.” Wilde noted the city’s home‑occupation standard limits generated traffic to five vehicles per hour.

The applicants, Wendy and Ed Magar, told the commission they currently have nine students enrolled, two of whom walk and two who carpool, which they said results in about six cars at peak times. Wendy said she and her daughter will manage the business and that drop‑off typically occurred in a staggered pattern. “We have 9 students enrolled, actually. 2 of them walk and 2 of them carpool. So we actually have 6 cars,” Wendy said.

Why it matters: the commission must weigh neighborhood impacts such as parking and traffic when allowing nonresidential uses in residential zones. The city code also defers some capacity and health licensing to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services depending on hours of operation.

Key details of the approval and staff discussion

- Location and space: the childcare use will occupy about 269.5 square feet in the basement of the residence at 730 East 100 North. - State licensing: staff said the Utah Department of Health and Human Services does not require a child‑care license for operators providing care four hours or less per day; hours were discussed as a factor in whether a state permit is required. - Traffic and parking: Linden City’s home‑occupation standard allows up to five vehicles per hour to the residence. Staff asked the applicants to stagger drop‑off and pick‑up times to remain compliant. Commissioners noted the rule is enforced by complaints from neighbors. - Conditions: the commission approved the permit with conditions that include compliance with Linden City home‑occupation requirements (staff cited Linden City code section 17.04 0.4002 in the motion), operation by a resident license holder, a limit of six vehicles parked at the residence at any one time, no generated traffic before 8:45 a.m. or after 12:15 p.m., drop‑off and pick‑up only on the property or directly in front of it, maintenance of a Linden City home‑occupation license and that the applicant apply to amend the permit if operating hours are extended.

Commission action and next steps

A commissioner moved to approve the conditional‑use permit with the listed conditions; another commissioner seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Planning staff said the conditional‑use permit does not require city council action, and the applicants were advised to work with city staff on any follow‑up items.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the permit is complaint‑driven: zoning enforcement or neighbor complaints would prompt a review if the permit conditions are not met.