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Council approves special permit for childcare center at 500 N. Coit Road after public hearing
Summary
After resident concerns about traffic and parking, the Richardson City Council approved Zoning File 2520 to allow a Willowbrae Child Care Academy at 500 N. Coit Road, subject to staff-recommended conditions and traffic mitigation measures; council said it retained the ability to call the permit back if violations occur.
The Richardson City Council voted unanimously to approve Zoning File 2520, a special permit allowing a childcare center at 500 N. Coit Road, after a public hearing that included staff presentation, testimony from the property owner’s representative and resident concerns about traffic and parking.
Senior planner Derica Peters presented the staff report, describing a 1-acre site located within a shopping center. The building is 12,400 square feet; staff said the proposed center would serve up to 220 students from infants through age 6, supported by an on-site staff of about 27. The plan includes a 7,700-square-foot playground area enclosed by a 6-foot wrought-iron fence, 46 on-site parking spaces (42 required), and a traffic circulation and mitigation plan that uses temporary cones and a no-right-turn during peak arrival and departure times.
SHOP Development representative Buck Wheeler said the operator (Willowbrae Child Care Academy) is a proven preschool operator; he said the owner would work with the operator on monitoring during peak periods and that the operator is likely to provide staff on-site during drop-off and pick-up. Neighbors (including Elise Doherty) urged stronger, more physical mitigation than cones, questioned signal timing at Round Rock and Coit, and raised concerns about staff parking and the potential for vehicles to shortcut through a neighborhood.
Council members asked staff and the applicant whether violations could be enforced; staff said the council and staff may call a special permit back for review or rescission if repeated violations occur. Several members said that, while they shared residents’ concerns, the permit includes enforceable conditions and that they would expect the operator and owner to comply; others emphasized they would monitor the site and could reopen the permit if needed.
Councilmember Justice moved to approve the special permit with staff conditions; Mayor Pro Tem seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The approval allows a large child care operator on a tool-available but relatively set-back retail site, increasing child-care capacity near residential neighborhoods but also creating a traffic-enforcement responsibility for staff, the operator and the council.
What’s next: Staff and the applicant will finalize mitigation details; neighbors were told they may report ongoing problems to the transportation and mobility department and to council offices, and the council may recall the special permit if conditions are not met.
