Beaver Creek panel approves conditional use for nursery/daycare at Lilian Lane

The Beaver Creek Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve a conditional-use permit that will allow a nursery school/daycare to operate at 2579 Lilian Lane.

The applicant’s representative, Dr. Anil Patnik, told commissioners the center—operated by the Youth Group for Indian Culture—would start with "five to six employees" and hoped to expand if demand grows. "We believe that to start with maybe it'll be five to six employees," Dr. Patnik said during the hearing.

City planning staff recommended approval with a package of conditions aimed at limiting operational impacts. Planner Randy summarized the staff recommendation, noting site history and the conditions: a maximum enrollment of 48 children (set to align with parking and state staffing ratios), play-space calculations (roughly 60 square feet per child), screening along residential edges (a six- to eight-foot earth mound with evergreen plantings), 42-inch fencing around play areas, limits on exterior lighting after hours, and other permitting requirements. "Looking at the totality of the application, staff has recommended approval," Randy said.

Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff about circulation, weekday stacking and how the site’s 15 parking spaces would support daily drop-off and pick-up flows. A commissioner asked whether existing Sunday gatherings—described by the applicant as 50–70 people at times—meant the center could quickly exceed the daily-cap. Randy said state licensing and the city’s certificate-of-use process provide mechanisms to address any over-occupancy. "If we suspected they had over 48 students, we can request an investigation and work with state licensing," Randy said.

To address safety and emergency access concerns, the commission amended condition five to require that, "if allowable by state law, an emergency gate shall be included in each play-space fence." That amendment was moved, seconded and approved before the final roll-call. The final motion approved PUD08-1 CU226 with the amended 12 conditions by a 5-0 vote.

Next steps: the applicant must secure required state licensing and building/fire approvals, obtain the zoning permits called for in the conditions, and comply with the city’s certificate-of-use requirements; the parcel will be subject to municipal code enforcement if complaints arise.

The commission closed the public hearing after no in-person speakers and no written input was recorded.