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Council OKs special-use permit for Children's Paradise at 21 E. 59th with traffic, capacity and sound-wall conditions
Summary
After a multi-year review and a traffic-impact study, council members approved a conditional special-use permit allowing a K-5 elementary school and daycare at 21 East 59th Street with an initial cap of 190 students (71 K-5 plus 119 daycare), a required traffic-management plan and an 8-foot sound wall; capacity may expand to 240 after a one-year operational review.
The Hialeah City Council voted on Sept. 9 to approve, on its first reading, a special-use permit and conditional use that will allow Children's Paradise to operate an elementary school (K-5) alongside a daycare at 21 East 59th Street with strict conditions to limit neighborhood traffic and noise.
Cesar Mestre, the applicant's representative, noted the site's history: the property received approvals for daycare use decades earlier and a conditional use for up to 240 children in 2008; the current request seeks a combined approach so the zoning remains R-1. "We're asking for the same thing this time," Mestre said, proposing a phased approach: an initial year capped at 190 total children (71 K-5 + 119 daycare), with a possible increase to 240 after review.
A city-approved traffic study by Choice Engineering analyzed a conservative scenario of 270 students and recommended mitigation measures including one-way entrance/exit configuration, cones to hold queues on-site, trained school personnel to manage drop-off and pick-up, staggered instructional shifts and coordination with county signal timing. "Overall, the proposed school introduces minimal operational impact, and the mitigations ... ensure that there's on-site vehicle containment," the study's presenter summarized.
Architect Carlos Cardoso described site changes: the building will be set as far from neighboring residences as possible, add a 6,917-square-foot playground, and include an 8-foot concrete wall with sound-absorbent materials and dense landscaping on the north and east property lines to reduce noise for adjacent homes.
Council members who expressed concern asked that the applicant record a declaration of restrictions obligating on-site traffic routing, daily cone placement and trained staff during arrival/dismissal. The council added the written conditions to the approval and scheduled second reading and public hearing for Sept. 23.
What happens next: The applicant must finalize the covenant/declaration of restrictions and obtain building permits; the council will review operations after the first year before any capacity increase.
