Committee hears conditional-use request for new Type A child daycare home at 1075 Lane Street; planning staff recommends approval with conditions

Planning staff told the Akron City Council planning committee that Martinique Tucker is seeking permission to operate a Type A child daycare home (to be called Smart Start) at 1075 Lane Street. The proposed two-story, 1,148-square-foot dwelling would provide care for up to 12 children ages 6 to 12, operate Monday through Friday with hours anticipated from 6 a.m. to midnight with alternating weekends, and would add one full-time assistant if approved.

"Since most of the activities will be indoors and children are dropped off and picked up at various times of the day, providing care for up to 6 additional children should not have a detrimental effect on the abutting properties nor create additional traffic congestion," the planner reported, and the traffic engineer told staff there were no concerns about drop-off and pick-up because the property is on a dead-end street in the Summit Lake neighborhood.

Staff said no interior or exterior changes are proposed, the rear yard is enclosed by chain-link fence and contains an outdoor play area, and on-street parking is available along Lane Street. Planning staff and planning commission recommended approval subject to conditions.

The committee opened the public hearing and swore in potential speakers. The petitioner did not have any members of the public speak against the request; the public hearing closed with no public opposition. The committee did not record a final vote in the meeting; the item was scheduled for a later public hearing that evening for full council consideration.

Planning staff also described that moving from a Type B to a Type A license is intended to give the provider additional flexibility to meet clients' daycare needs and that staff supports the proposal with recommended conditions.