Planning Commission recommends approval for Adventure World Kids conditional use in St. Cloud

The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional-use permit for Adventure World Kids, a proposed two-building childcare and preschool to operate at Units 1386 and 1388 in an existing commercial development.

City staff, represented by Associate Planner Sean Raja, told the commission the property’s highway-business zoning permits a childcare center only by conditional use. Staff recommended approval of the resolution associated with DRC case CNU00007 (staff cited resolution number 2025-171R) provided several conditions are met: separate site-development approval is required for any changes to the site and the conditional use remains valid only while the occupant’s certificate of use is active. Staff also said the applicant must obtain a fence permit for an unpermitted fence already installed and warned that stacking or standing vehicles that encroach into the public right-of-way may prompt future council review or additional conditions under the land development code (staff referenced sections cited during the presentation).

Nicole Maras, founder and director of Adventure World Kids, spoke to the commission about her background in early childhood education and said the proposal aims to create a “warm, high quality childcare facility” for St. Cloud families. Maras told commissioners the operation intends to enroll about 60 students across two buildings (30 per building) with three teachers per building plus the director on site. She said staggered schedules (examples given: 8 a.m.–11 a.m., 8 a.m.–2 p.m., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) are intended to reduce peak drop-off and pick-up traffic and that an outdoor fenced play area is planned for recess periods.

Several members of the local childcare community and residents voiced support during the public-comment period. Sharon Matthews, a St. Cloud resident and owner of Playful Scholars Academy, and Jennifer, a director at Kitty Academy of Hunters Creek, both told the commission they had visited Maras’s indoor-play facility and endorsed the applicant’s experience and community demand for additional childcare options.

After closing public comment the commission moved to the question. Member Dawn Grisby made the motion to recommend approval based on the six factual findings in the land development code and the staff-recommended conditions; Member Daisy Snyder seconded. The commission voted in favor by voice and the clerk reported a 4–0 tally in favor of the recommendation to City Council.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council for final action on the referenced resolution and any site-development approvals required by the land development code. During the staff presentation, Marcus Bostian (community development deputy director) also read in a separate item, the Bridal Edge PUD preliminary master plan, which the applicant requested be continued to the December 16, 2025 Planning Commission meeting and to the January 8, 2026 City Council meeting.

Ending: The meeting adjourned following routine business.