Planning Commission forwards Woodlands Day School preschool CUP to supervisors with favorable recommendation

On Nov. 27, the New Kent County Planning Commission voted to forward application CUP‑3‑25 — a conditional use permit request to operate a preschool at Providence United Methodist Church — to the Board of Supervisors with a favorable recommendation.

Patrick Silva, planner with New Kent County, told commissioners the application, submitted by Lacey Kane under the trade name Woodlands Day School, proposes 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday operations, a cap of 60 children served in four existing classrooms, and a staff of 10 to 12. Silva said staff supports approval “subject to the conditions of approval outlined in the staff report,” and noted interdepartmental reviewers had requested specific requirements, including a meeting with the sheriff’s office for a security assessment and compliance with county erosion- and sediment-control ordinances for any future land disturbance of 2,500 square feet or more.

During questioning commissioners confirmed the preschool would serve children roughly 2½ up to just under 5 years old and that the 60‑child cap is the CUP limit while the final occupant load would be set through the certificate‑of‑occupancy process. Silva said the applicant proposed staggered pickup and drop‑off windows (7:30–9:30 a.m. and 3:30–5:30 p.m.) with all loading/unloading to occur on‑site to minimize queuing on New Kent Highway.

When asked who would hold the permit, Silva said condition 10 in the staff report would require the CUP be issued to the applicant or a corporation in which the applicant holds a majority stake, and that a different location would require a new CUP if the new property also required one. The applicant, Lacey Kane, told the commission she is not the property owner and is “just renting the space from the church.”

A commissioner raised the option of adding a sunset clause; Silva said condition 3 already requires demonstration that the applicant meets state and local health‑department requirements and that the commission could add a sunset clause if it wished. Commissioners also discussed building and fire‑code requirements and were told those matters would be reviewed as part of any change of use and the certificate‑of‑occupancy process.

No members of the public signed up to speak during the public‑comment portion of the hearing. Reverend Hathaway moved to adopt Resolution PC21‑125 forwarding CUP‑3‑25 to the Board of Supervisors with a favorable recommendation “in order to address, protect, and promote public convenience, necessity, joint welfare, and good zoning practices in the county.” The clerk polled the commission: Miss Johnson — Aye; Mr. Moyer — Abstain; Mr. Dombrowski — Aye; Miss Thomas — Aye; Mr. LaRochelle — Aye; Dr. Schmidt — Aye; Mr. Bennett — Aye; Miss Rose — Aye; Reverend Hathaway — Aye; Mr. Davis — Aye. The motion carried with nine ayes and one abstention.

The item will be considered by the New Kent County Board of Supervisors at a future meeting. Staff advised that any approval at the board level would be subject to the conditions included in the staff report and to the certificate‑of‑occupancy process that determines final occupant load and building‑code compliance.