Planning Commission approves ABA therapy clinic and daycare at 1950 E. Fort Union

On March 4, 2026, the Cottonwood Heights Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit (CUP-26-00003) to allow an applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy clinic and daycare to operate at 1950 East Fort Union Boulevard, the commission said during a roll-call vote after staff recommended approval with conditions.

Staff told the commission the proposed clinic would serve children roughly ages 2 to 8 during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, and would not provide overnight care or medical treatments on-site. The staff report described the program as evidence-based ABA therapy delivered in supervised, largely indoor settings and concluded the use fits within the CR (regional commercial) zoning conditional-use categories cited in Cottonwood Heights Municipal Code 19.40.030B. Staff recommended conditions including a valid business license, client parking accommodated off-street on the property (not relying on street parking or adjacent lots), building permits for any exterior signage or remodel, and additional city review for any expansion or change of scope.

Commissioners’ questions focused on parking and pick-up/drop-off circulation at the site. Planner Jim told the commission the parking calculation for the building’s roughly 7,000 square feet requires about 15.75 stalls (rounded to 16); staff noted the site as-built provides about 17–20 stalls. Applicant Mark (who said his operation uses the trade name Little Champs) told the commission four stalls would be formally designated for drop-off/pick-up, the landlord reports 20 stalls on site in total, and the operator expects to stagger arrival times and to have staff assist with quick pick-up and drop-off to avoid congestion. Mark said the clinic’s full licensed capacity is up to about 30 children but that schedules are individualized and staggered so they would not all arrive simultaneously.

Commissioners said they were satisfied that code requirements are met and that operational details (staggering arrivals, staff assisting with drop-off, and securing parking arrangements) mitigate circulation risks. Rusty, a staff member, and Jim explained typical market parking ratios and the municipal parking calculation during the discussion. The commission moved to approve the permit subject to the staff conditions described in the staff report and completed a roll-call that recorded commissioners present voting in favor.

"We hope we would get approved as we do feel this would really benefit the community and benefit those children that really are lacking services," applicant Mark said during public comment before the public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.

The CUP approval is conditioned on the city’s listed requirements; staff noted the permit may be reviewed or revoked upon a complaint or evidence of noncompliance and that any exterior signage or change of use would require separate permits. The commission’s approval allows the applicant to proceed to the business-license stage and to finalize site arrangements required by staff.