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Olivette Council OKs 'Little Stems' special permit for daycare at 9310 Olive Boulevard
Summary
After a public hearing, the Olivette City Council unanimously approved a special permit for Little Stems, a STEAM-focused daycare proposed for a vacant 6,256 sq. ft. building at 9310 Olive Boulevard, with conditions on play hours, signage, traffic mitigation, and phased streetscape improvements.
The Olivette City Council unanimously approved a special-permit ordinance on Aug. 27 to allow Little Stems, a child daycare proposed for 9310 Olive Boulevard, to operate in the city's COR (Commercial Office Retail) district.
City planning director Carlos Trejo summarized the application and commission recommendation, saying the site is a 0.68-acre parcel with a 6,256-square-foot building that has been vacant. Trejo said the use is permitted in COR only by special permit and that staff and the plan commission sought conditions to reduce neighborhood impacts, including an arrival/dismissal traffic plan, replacement of exterior lighting to meet Olivette Boulevard standards, and a phased schedule for cross-access easements and streetscape improvements.
Petitioner Latoya Blair told the council she has worked in education since 2008 and plans STEAM-centered programming. "I'm really excited to be able to provide quality education, specifically STEAM education to the community," Blair said. She confirmed the facility will pursue Missouri licensing, will provide an on-site fenced playground at the rear of the building, and will meet state staff-to-child ratios and emergency-drill requirements.
Council members pressed staff and the petitioner on safety and circulation. Trejo said the city convened a round-table with police, fire and building-inspection staff to assess access for emergency vehicles and to craft mitigations. He said code requires at least 600 square feet of outdoor play area and that play areas are limited by local code to 8 a.m.–6 p.m. to reduce impact on adjacent residences. Blair described planned security measures and said the main entry will be controlled by PIN pad or buzzer access.
The approval was moved by a council member and, after a unanimous roll-call vote, the clerk declared the motion approved. The record includes the commission conditions that the council will use to monitor compliance: playground and hours limits, replacement of exterior signage before occupancy, a six-month schedule to submit a plan for cross-access easement negotiation and a phased five-year streetscape and fence improvement schedule tied to occupancy and redevelopment.
