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Planning commission votes to allow conditional commercial day-care centers in residential districts
Summary
The Chesapeake Beach Planning & Zoning Commission voted Nov. 5 to allow commercial day-care centers as conditional uses across residential districts, while keeping home day-care operations permitted where homes are allowed.
The Chesapeake Beach Planning & Zoning Commission voted on Nov. 5 to allow commercial day-care centers as conditional uses in residential districts, while retaining the existing requirements designed to limit noise, traffic and neighborhood impacts.
Planning Director Sarah Franklin reviewed the ordinance language that distinguishes "home day care" from a larger "day care center." A day care center, she said, carries specific dimensional and operational requirements: a minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet (about one-half acre) plus 2,500 square feet for each additional person cared for over 10; a requirement that no building be located within 30 feet of any adjoining residential property; vegetative screening and buffers where the lot abuts residential properties; and outdoor play areas located and screened so as not to disturb neighbors.
Commissioners discussed the community need for child care versus neighborhood constraints such as parking and traffic. Supporters noted the shortage of day-care slots and the difficulty parents report finding local care. Opponents raised concerns that many residential lots do not meet the 20,000-square-foot minimum and warned about holiday and classroom pickup/drop-off congestion.
After debate, the commission approved an amendment that expanded an initial motion (to allow day-care centers in RV-2 and RLD) to make commercial day-care centers a conditional use across residential districts, subject to the ordinance's standards and the Board of Appeals or planning commission review where required. The chair announced the measure passed on a voice vote: "All in favor?" "Aye." "Any opposed?" "No."
What this means: small home day-care operations remain permitted where homes are allowed; larger commercial day-care centers may be established in residential zones only if they meet the lot-size, setback, screening and parking requirements in the zoning code and obtain any required approvals.
