Planning Board endorses zoning changes to allow daycare use and shared parking at SAU/airport site

Staff described two technical zoning amendments to support a proposed childcare facility at the SAU/Airport Road site: (1) allow a child daycare facility to act as a second primary use on a residential lot in R‑3 when the use meets the statutory definition of a larger childcare provider, and (2) permit shared parking across adjacent parcels so parking on city land can serve a childcare use on school district property.

Nate Reichert (Planning Director) explained this is a narrowly framed change to avoid spot zoning while enabling community‑serving uses. He said the amendments would be processed on an accelerated schedule to allow Council consideration by mid‑August in order to match funding and design timelines for the project.

Board members asked whether the change would permit small home‑based childcare (it would not; existing allowances for small, accessory home daycares remain) and about on‑street parking availability and long‑term lease agreements for cross‑lot parking. Staff said the facility would require durable agreements (leases and easements recorded in the land records) to avoid future disputes over parking access.

A board member moved to endorse the amendments to Sections 205 and 604 as described in the packet. The motion was put to a show‑of‑hands vote and carried unanimously.

What happens next: staff will carry the Planning Board recommendation to the City Council and continue coordination with the zoning and conservation boards. Any site plan approvals will require demonstration of lease or shared‑parking agreements and appropriate special‑exception review where required.