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Daycare operator seeks to open 110-child center on McKnight Road; planning panel tables request pending parking variance
Summary
Ranjeet Mullick asked the Ross Township Planning Commission for conditional use approval to open a daycare at 7725 McKnight Road with a blueprint capacity of 110 children; commissioners cited parking and traffic concerns and recommended tabling the application while the applicant pursues a variance and PennDOT HOP permits.
Ranjeet Mullick, who said he operates several day care centers in the Pittsburgh region, asked the Ross Township Planning Commission on Jan. 22 for conditional use approval to operate a daycare at 7725 McKnight Road (L/B #517-H-169) in the 8th Ward.
Mullick said the proposed center would offer full-day child care, pre-K, before- and after-school programs, and summer programs for children from about six weeks old through under 12. He said the blueprints show a maximum capacity of 110 children and that operating hours would likely be about 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. “We provide a high level of educational childcare,” Mullick said.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on logistics. Commissioner Joseph Argenas asked about maximum enrollment and parking; Mullick said they typically do not enroll to full capacity and that staff would help at pick-up and drop-off. The applicants said seven parking spaces are available in the rear of the site. Commissioner William Grady asked how many teachers would work at full capacity; the applicants responded that staff would total roughly 20 with staggered schedules.
Dominic Rickert, Director of Community Development, reminded the commission that the township ordinance requires one off-street parking space per teacher and said the applicant should apply for any necessary variances if they cannot meet that requirement. Rickert also advised the applicant to consider PennDOT highway occupancy permits (HOP) to address ingress and egress concerns along McKnight Road.
During public comment, resident Darlene DiDonato raised concerns about the proximity of the site to McKnight Road and the lack of parking. No other public speakers opposed or supported the application on the record.
After deliberation the commission voted to recommend tabling CU-26-1 to allow the applicant to obtain the required variance and to pursue any necessary traffic/permitting reviews. Voting in favor of tabling were Chairman Jim Wigal, Bridget Watson-O'Brien, William Grady, Eric Fullerton, Joseph Argenas, Edward Nassan, and Matthew Kruth. Commissioners Michael Stephens and Ken Petri were absent.
Next steps: The applicant is expected to seek the off-street parking variance and any PennDOT permits and return to the planning commission for further review.
