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Atascadero planning commission approves conditional use permit for Barnyard Preschool at 8935 Amapoa Avenue
Summary
The Atascadero City Planning Commission on May 19 approved a conditional use permit (CUP 26-0022) allowing Barnyard Preschool to operate at 8935 Amapoa Avenue with parking and sign design exceptions; the motion passed 4-0 with Vice Chair Pinacio recused.
The Atascadero City Planning Commission voted May 19 to approve conditional use permit 26-0022, allowing the Barnyard Preschool to operate at 8935 Amapoa Avenue (APN 031-301-024) with exceptions for on-site parking and a freestanding sign.
Assistant Planner Daniels told the commission the roughly 0.3-acre lot is zoned residential multifamily (24 units per acre) and previously housed the Atascadero Cooperative Preschool; the prior business license expired in 2024. Daniels said the applicant is requesting a parking and sign design exception and described staff-recommended conditions to ensure neighborhood compatibility. "Given the site history, staff believes that the existing driveway is sufficient to meet the needs and can be oriented in a way that allows cars to avoid backing out onto Amapoa," Daniels said.
Daniels described the applicant's parking proposal as three on-site parking spaces consistent with anticipated staff, plus a guest space and a dedicated pick-up/drop-off bay, and noted additional on-street parking is available but cannot be reserved for the preschool. The presentation said the applicant proposes to retain an existing 38‑by‑52‑foot unpaved driveway rather than pave and re-stripe to formal parking-lot standards. As conditions of approval, staff recommended measures including staggered drop‑off and pick‑up times, carpool encouragement and a staff member present during peak circulation to manage safe flow.
Vice Chairperson Pinacio recused himself from the item, explaining: "My architecture firm was contacted by the property owner for a potential project. So out of an abundance of caution, I'm gonna recuse myself from this agenda item, and I will return after its conclusion." That recusal reduced the participating commissioners for the vote.
After brief commissioner comments expressing support for reopening a preschool at the site, a commissioner moved to adopt the draft resolution approving CUP 26-0022 "to allow a preschool with a parking and sign design exception at 8935 Amapoa Avenue, APN 031-301-024, based on findings and subject to conditions of approval." Commissioner Farrell seconded the motion. The commission approved the permit on a 4-0 vote.
The approved conditions emphasize circulation and safety during pick-up and drop-off and retain the site's historical driveway configuration rather than requiring immediate paving and standard striping. The planning staff will implement conditions of approval and follow up as required.
The commission will meet next on June 2; staff also noted the general plan environmental impact report is open for comment and will go to City Council for public comment.
