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West Allis council reviews three conditional-use permit applications for a church and two child-care centers
Summary
The West Allis Common Council held public hearings March 10 on a 1,200 sq. ft. church relocation and two proposed child-care centers — one for 20 children at 6014 W. Lincoln Ave. and one for up to 30 children at 1568 S. 81st St. Plan Commission recommended approval with site-condition clarifications; council took no final land-use votes at the meeting.
West Allis — The Common Council on March 10 heard staff presentations and public comments on three conditional-use permit applications: Divine Covenant Church (10533 W. National Ave.), Scholars First Education (6014 W. Lincoln Ave.) and Discovery Scholars Academy (1568 S. 81st St.). No final council votes on those permits were recorded at the meeting.
Steve Sherman, the city’s director of planning, told the council that Divine Covenant Church would occupy roughly 1,200 square feet on the building’s second floor and currently counts about 10 members. "Divine Covenant Church is about 1,200 square feet and will be located on the second floor," Sherman said, adding that the congregation does not plan baptisms, weddings or funerals at the site.
The proposed Scholars First Education center would serve up to 20 children ages 3 to 12 with up to five staff across two shifts. Sherman said the applicant requested hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., noting the schedule is "subject to state licensing." Council members pressed on the late-hour proposal: Alderman Grisham asked whether a 10:00 p.m. closing was typical and how outdoor time would work for second-shift children. Tiasha, who identified herself as the center director, said state rules require outdoor time but that for second-shift schedules outdoor activity would not be scheduled after mid-afternoon: "the state does require that the children go out, but it will not be, um, like anytime after 3:00 p.m.," she said, adding second-shift care focuses on feedings and sleep rather than daytime play.
Discovery Scholars Academy was presented as a conversion of a former retail liquor store into a licensed daycare serving up to 30 children and proposing hours as early as 6:00 a.m. and as late as midnight. Sherman said the site plan includes a rear play area and that Plan Commission recommended approval with conditions to finalize the play-area layout and related site improvements.
Council members raised recurring practical questions about parking and neighborhood impact. Sherman said the areas around Lincoln Avenue and 60th/61st Streets generally offer on-street parking and that staff recommended fencing and planter details for safety and sight-line protection. A nearby resident, Dwight Schmitz, asked whether the existing daycare across from the 81st Street site was still operating; Sherman said he would check licensing and reiterated that zoning could allow two daycares across the street and that each application is reviewed individually.
Plan Commission reviewed and recommended approval of each application with conditions to clarify fencing, planter detail, pavement type and refuse screening for the child-care sites and to finalize site-plan details for the 81st Street location. The council closed the public hearings and moved to the next agenda items; no permit adoptions or denials were recorded in the minutes of the March 10 meeting.
The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2026, where outstanding land-use items may return for further action.
