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Resident proposes small early‑childhood program at 230 James Street; board seeks more site details
Summary
Taylor Gray told the village board she has incorporated a nonprofit to run an early‑childhood education program at 230 James Street and asked the board to consider a zoning omission; members asked for a written site plan, property‑owner permission for rear access and details on parking, winter maintenance and OCFS licensing.
Taylor Gray told the Clayton Village Board she has incorporated a nonprofit and wants to locate a small early‑childhood education program at 230 James Street, the building next to River Yoga. "The location in question is 230 James Street," she said, and asked the board to consider whether zoning had unintentionally omitted this type of service.
Gray said licensing through OCFS is conditional on the site and that the program is seeking to secure the site before pursuing final licensing. She told the board she does not intend to operate a high‑enrollment daycare and estimated a startup enrollment between about 12 and 28 children, noting OCFS square‑footage rules could allow as many as 50 occupants but that she prefers a smaller, school‑oriented model.
Board members immediately raised concerns about traffic and safety. Board member Ron said Riverwalk District B originally excluded that use because of high traffic and limited pull‑up space, and he worried about children entering and exiting in a busy area. Rob, a fourth‑grade teacher at Gardino Elementary School, said school drop‑off and pickup routines can be chaotic and urged a detailed operational plan: "There's a lot of parents that pick their children up and choose to, you know, drop them off in the morning," he said, and described scenarios where multiple doors and vehicles could create hazards.
Gray responded that the space has a rear parking lot with lower traffic and that building owners are willing to enclose a back patio and provide a back entrance to separate pedestrian drop‑off from street traffic. She also said building owners are supportive and that she would pursue conversations about purchasing or securing parking spaces and arranging winter maintenance if that becomes the main access route.
The board asked Gray to provide additional materials before any zoning vote: a written site and traffic/safety plan, property‑owner authorization (or evidence of any easement), and documentation about how OCFS licensing would apply to the site. The board directed Gray to route materials through Mike (staff) and to return with the requested documentation.
Next steps: Gray said she would follow up with written materials and a plan; the board did not vote on any zoning change at the meeting.
