Planning commission approves conditional use for nursery at 2579 Lillian Lane with safety conditions

The Beaver Creek Planning Commission on a 5‑0 vote approved a conditional‑use permit for a proposed nursery and preschool at 2579 Lillian Lane, granting the Youth Group for Indian Culture permission to operate a daycare in the existing building under the staff‑recommended conditions.

Staff described the application as a conditional use within the site's PUD and recommended approval with 12 conditions intended to address parking, play areas and safety. Planning staff noted the site has 15 parking spaces and, to match parking and state staffing ratios, the resolution limits enrollment to a maximum of 48 children. Staff also proposed play‑area fencing, lighting controls and hours of operation. As staff summarized, the resolution expands the operation window to run daily between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and requires 42‑inch fencing around play areas and lighting reduced after close.

Applicant representative Dr. Anil Patnik, who identified himself as secretary for the Youth Group for Indian Culture, said the organization currently operates a Sunday school at the building and plans a modest daycare staff to begin operations. "We believed that to start with maybe it will be five to six employees," Patnik said, adding the group hoped to grow staffing if the program proved successful.

Commissioners focused questions on site circulation, fire and emergency egress and enforcement of the enrollment cap. Commissioners raised that current Sunday use brings as many as 50–70 people at peak times, and asked how routine morning and evening drop‑off would be managed with only 15 parking spaces. Planning staff said the enrollment cap is established by the approval and that state licensing and city certificate‑of‑use processes provide enforcement mechanisms: "If we suspected they had over 48 students, we can request that the state take action or we can revoke their certificate of use compliance," staff said.

After discussion, commissioners moved to add a sentence to condition five requiring that, "if allowable by state regulation, an emergency gate shall be included in each play‑space fence." The commission approved the amendment and then approved the full conditional use with the amended conditions by roll call vote, 5‑0.

What happens next: the applicant will pursue state licensing and any building or fire permits needed before opening. Staff said any expansion beyond the approved 48‑child maximum would require return to the planning commission or administrative review depending on whether the change requires new construction or only an administrative parking change.