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Council recommends against alley loading zone for proposed daycare at 113 Second Ave. NW
Summary
Faced with a Board-of-Adjustment condition to create a loading zone for a proposed daycare, council declined to designate a 15-minute loading zone in an active alley, citing safety, parking precedent and snow-removal concerns.
Council considered a request tied to a Board of Adjustment condition asking the city to create a 15-minute loading zone in an active alley behind 113 Second Ave. NW to facilitate drop-off and pick-up for a proposed daycare.
Staff recommended against the designation, saying the alley is active, used for traffic and servicing, and that creating a designated loading area there would set a precedent citywide. Council members raised concerns about snow removal, impacts on existing businesses using the lot, and potential difficulty for through traffic. Several members suggested alternatives, including directing the applicant back to the Board of Adjustment to revise its condition, using existing city parking for short-term drop-off, or revisiting the request after the facility opens and usage patterns are known.
After an extended exchange weighing community need for childcare against operational and precedent risks, council voted to recommend against creating the loading zone as requested. The council noted its support for daycare services and encouraged the applicant to work with the Board of Adjustment and staff to find workable alternatives.
