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Planning commission approves expansion of in‑home daycare at 6824 Fairfield Drive
Summary
After staff recommended denial, the Little Rock Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to convert an in‑home daycare from 10 to 16 children at 6824 Fairfield Drive, conditioned on paving, an ADA parking stall and compliance with engineering and DHS requirements.
The Little Rock Planning Commission on Nov. 13 approved a conditional use permit allowing an in‑home daycare at 6824 Fairfield Drive to expand from 10 to 16 children.
Staff had recommended denial, saying the jump to 16 would intensify a residential use and that creating a parking lot to meet employee and handicap parking needs would alter the neighborhood’s residential character. At the hearing, planning staff said the City code treats programs above 10 children as a daycare rather than a family home daycare and highlighted needed engineering and parking improvements and required signage changes.
Applicant Angela Jackson told the commission she has operated the home program for nearly five years without infractions and already runs drop‑off and pickup routines and staff procedures she said will accommodate the extra six children. “I’ve been open for almost 5 years with all the daycare shutting down. I’m getting a lot of calls … I’ve been up waiting for going on 5 years with no infractions,” Jackson said.
Commissioners pressed staff on code limits and said the applicant must bring the site into compliance if approved. Planning staff clarified that a daycare family home is allowed for up to 10 children and that exceeding that threshold requires conversion to a daycare facility under the relevant City code. Commissioners indicated that paving the gravel area, providing a designated handicap parking space and removing or resizing the existing sign to comply with residential sign rules were necessary conditions for approval.
A commissioner moved to approve file Z‑9600‑A “Jackson daycare” with conditions noted in the staff report; the motion carried on a roll call vote. The commission’s approval is subject to the conditions in the agenda staff report, including engineering improvements, paved parking with an ADA stall, removal or reduction of the non‑conforming sign and any additional requirements from the Department of Human Services for operation at the higher capacity.
What happens next: the applicant must complete required site improvements and provide documentation to city staff and, as applicable, to the Department of Human Services to finalize licensing for 16 children. The commission’s approval overrides the staff recommendation but imposes the listed conditions.
