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Planning commission recommends approval for child day center at 620 Railroad Drive
Summary
The Smyth County Planning Commission recommended approval of a special use permit for a child day center proposed by Gena Stanley at 620 Railroad Drive, conditioned on VDOT approval, licensing from DSS and required building permits. Commissioners voiced safety and traffic concerns near a nearby railroad and bridge.
Gena Stanley, owner of Tender Tots Learning Academy, will be allowed to seek relocation of her day‑care business to 620 Railroad Drive after the Smyth County Planning Commission on April 23 recommended approval of her special use permit application.
The recommendation, moved by Commissioner Lea Meadows and seconded by Commissioner David C. Buchanan Jr., was conditioned on Stanley obtaining approval from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), licensing from DSS and any required building permits. The motion passed 5–0 with Commissioners Robert Campbell and Graham Davidson Jr. absent.
Stanley told the board she plans a drive‑thru style drop‑off and that her center would operate Monday through Friday with morning drop‑off between about 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and a closing time near 5:30 p.m. She said she intends to staff the new location with the same number of employees (15) as at her current site and expects to reconfigure a smaller building to meet applicable Department of Education requirements, including a fenced outdoor play area.
Commissioners and supervisors who questioned the proposal raised traffic and safety concerns linked to the nearby railroad and a bridge reopening. Supervisor Rick Billings said he would be more comfortable if those safety issues were addressed; Stanley replied that the Department of Education had not raised railroad safety concerns but emphasized that outdoor play areas must be fenced and that she is working with VDOT on the commercial entrance and drop‑off design.
The recommendation requires the applicant to secure VDOT approvals — which may include ingress/egress studies — and the appropriate state and local licenses and permits before the county forwards a final recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The joint public hearing portion of the meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.; the Planning Commission took its recommendation later in the meeting.
