Pleasant Grove planning commission continues home preschool permit after conflict reduces quorum

Joanna Giles asked the Pleasant Grove Planning Commission on April 9 to allow a major home-occupation preschool at 1172 West 880 North that would serve up to 12 children, ages 3–5, in three daily sessions. Jacob Hawkins of the planning department told commissioners that state requirements, background checks for caregivers and local conditions apply; staff recommended approval with conditions including no on-street parking, a fenced play area and compliance with final planning, engineering and fire approvals.

Hawkins said daycares in residential zones may operate as a minor home occupation for up to six children without a conditional-use permit but that preschools or daycares with more than six and fewer than 13 children require a conditional-use permit. He described the proposed schedule (three weekday sessions between roughly 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.), a basement teaching area and use of side and rear yards for play, and estimated the driveway could accommodate about five vehicles off street.

Giles, who said she has taught preschool special education in the district for 31 years and will retire from Alpine School District in June, told the commission she seeks to meet local demand for three-year-olds who may not otherwise be able to attend district preschools next year. “I have been in the school district for 31 years teaching special education preschool, and as of June, I am retiring from Alpine School District and would love to continue doing what I know best,” she said.

Staff noted a written neighbor opposition listing five concerns: the scale of a larger childcare operation, traffic and safety on the local street, the availability of commercial sites nearby, potential noise and disruption, and redundancy because Mount Mahogany Elementary is nearby. Commissioners pressed Giles on drop-off logistics and safety; she said she would manage drop-off from the driveway, have at least one staff member outside for handoffs, and could hold occasional graduations off site.

Before the commission could act on conditions, a commissioner declared a conflict of interest that reduced the commission’s quorum. The chair said the governing statutes require a quorum to vote; Commissioner Tricker moved to continue the item to the April 23 planning commission meeting and the commission voted to continue the hearing.

The commission did not vote on the permit itself; the item will return to the next planning commission meeting with potential conditions including limits on hours, age range (3 and up), no on-street parking, and required licensing and inspections.