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Commission recommends approval for child-care center at 3355 W. 183rd St., conditioned on DFCS licensing
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a special-use permit for a 5,800 sq. ft. child-care center for up to 85 children at 3355 W. 183rd St. Applicants Michael Jones and Felicia Puente must submit DFCS licensure paperwork before the village will issue the final permit and business certificate.
On July 9 the Village of Homewood Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special-use permit (case 26-40) for a child-care center at 3355 West 183rd Street, subject to the zoning findings and the requirement that the applicant provide DFCS (state child-care) licensure or registration paperwork before the village issues a final permit or business certificate.
Michael Jones, an owner of a nearby restaurant, said the 5,800-square-foot site will return to a child-care use and serve the community — including employees at his restaurant — with up to 85 total children. "Our goal is to serve the community," Jones said, adding that the facility will occupy the same footprint as a prior child-care tenant.
Felicia Puente explained safety and operational plans: a single monitored entrance with secondary barriers inside, age-grouped classrooms, a fenced play area adjacent to the building, and staffing plans that include a director, assistant director and multiple classroom teachers and aides. Commissioners asked about staffing, restroom sharing between classrooms, daily operations and playground access; applicants said they are hiring licensed early-childhood staff and plan to meet licensing requirements.
Staff and commissioners discussed traffic and pickup patterns on 183rd Street and potential congestion at peak times; the applicants said they are exploring driveway options and possible incentives or staggered pickup windows to ease peak congestion. One commissioner suggested phasing pickup times by age group to reduce queuing.
Staff noted the zoning code requires DFCS licensure/registration to be complete before the village can formally issue the special-use permit; staff said they could recommend approval at the meeting but must receive the DFCS paperwork before final sign-off and business-certificate issuance. Member Alfonso moved to recommend approval of case 26-40 with findings of fact incorporated; member Kapp seconded and the commission recorded affirmative votes.
Next steps: applicants must submit documentation showing DFCS licensure or registration; staff will then schedule the item for final administrative approval and business-certificate issuance when the state paperwork is received.
