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Resident presents crash data and urges council to deny zoning changes for 501 Lark Street daycare
Summary
A Geneva resident and business owner told the council that a proposed daycare at 501 Lark Street is not appropriate for the site, presenting an accident summary showing 49 crashes (03/03/2020–11/19/2025) at the nearby South Randall & Kesselinger intersection with about 28 injuries, and argued the location is a high‑crash site unsuited to a child‑based facility.
Amanda Driscoll, a Pepper Valley resident and local business owner, addressed the council during public comment to oppose zoning changes requested for 501 Lark Street that would allow a daycare in a business district with reduced setbacks and fewer parking spaces.
Driscoll said the applicant requested approval for three items, including smaller setbacks on three sides and a reduction from 50 to 45 parking spaces. She presented an accident summary for the intersection of South Randall Road and Kesselinger Road covering 03/03/2020 through 11/19/2025, reporting 49 reported traffic accidents (an average of about 5.5 crashes per year) with approximately 28 injury crashes and about 21 property‑damage‑only crashes. Driscoll argued this equates to a nearly 60 percent injury rate at that location and said the intersection exceeds common thresholds for high‑crash classification.
Driscoll asked who in the city would ‘‘take the responsibility of approving these requests when an injury or death of a child or employee is something were to happen at this location’’ and said the site’s geometry, emergency vehicle traffic and parking constraints make it unsuitable for a child‑based facility. She noted the applicant is represented by an out‑of‑state company and asked whether a local business might be a preferable occupant.
Why it matters: Zoning changes that reduce setbacks or parking near a high‑crash intersection raise safety concerns when the proposed use serves children. Driscoll provided specific crash data and urged the council and staff to consider safety, traffic engineering benchmarks and alternatives.
What’s next: The matter will proceed through the zoning and planning process (an appeal/permit hearing was referenced for Jan. 12); council members and staff indicated they will review submitted materials and the Planning & Zoning Commission record.
