Planning committee approves Kids World Daycare at Commerce Street with one-year traffic review

The Tupelo Planning Committee voted to allow Kids World Daycare to occupy the former Tupelo Academy of Cosmetology at 3205 Commerce Street, approving the flexible-use request with a stipulation that the project's traffic plan be re-reviewed in one year.

Attorney Clint Martin spoke for the applicants and said two issues — traffic flow and fire-marshal review — were the central concerns. Melissa Bell, owner of Kids' Own and the operator who will run Kids World in the proposed location, explained licensure and staffing ratios and described parking and play-area plans. "The new building, if we do it the way it's designed, it could be up to a 150 kids," Bell said, and she added that state licensing sets child-to-staff ratios. During committee questioning she described a written parking agreement with an adjacent property owner and said the playground would be fenced and supervised by staff.

Committee member Leslie Mart moved to approve the request with a condition to re-review traffic after one year; the motion was seconded and approved by voice. Tanner Newman, director of development services, advised the applicant and the public of appeal rights: "Beginning tomorrow, anyone, objecting to this decision will have 3 days to file an appeal to the city council," he said, and reminded the applicant to coordinate with the downtown overlay committee, the health department and the fire marshal on code and safety requirements. The committee noted landscaping, fencing and downtown-overlay design standards remain applicable and must be met before final occupancy.