Planning commission approves Kyle Hyland Foundation teen‑center use permit at 1155 West 10th Street with conditions

The Venetia Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing the Kyle Hyland Foundation to operate a teen center at 1155 West 10th Street, adopting staff’s recommendation with three additional conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.

Planning staff outlined the proposal as a conversion of an existing single‑family residence on a 5,662‑square‑foot lot into a drop‑in teen center and behavioral‑health space for teens aged roughly 12–19. Staff said the applicant requested a reduction from the code‑required 10 off‑street parking spaces to five and supported that request with a three‑week fall 2024 parking study. Staff recommended approval with conditions including contact information for neighbors, privacy screening, deferred construction of alley‑access parking unless complaints trigger it, and compliance with noise and nuisance rules.

Barbara Gervasi, president and executive director of the Kyle Hyland Foundation, told commissioners the foundation has operated a teen center for 8½ years and that its goal is “to prevent any other family from experiencing the type of agony and trauma and loss that we suffered.” She described programs (drop‑in social space, tutoring, art and music, and a behavioral‑health component) and said a sign‑in app shows modest attendance (typically 10–20 teens on weekdays and as many as about 25 on Fridays). Gervasi said prior surveys at the current location showed nearly all teens walk to the center and that large fundraisers would not be held at the proposed site because of parking constraints.

Neighbors opposing the specific West 10th site raised detailed objections about privacy (exterior stairs and sight lines into adjacent backyards), alley safety and narrow geometry for pickup and drop‑off, and the adequacy of the three‑week parking sample. One speaker asked the commission to require specific, enforceable screening specifications and to deny the permit if the site could not meet the residential character requirements.

After extensive public comment that included many residents, volunteers, clinicians and teenage participants, Commissioner Lyle moved to adopt the staff resolution with modifications that (1) limit operating hours to those in the project narrative (school‑year and summer schedules as presented in the staff report), (2) require non‑teen events and fundraisers to be held off‑site, and (3) allow two rear parking spaces to be constructed later if complaints warrant them but restrict those spots to staff if and when they are built. The motion passed on a roll call vote (Yes: Donahue, Gilpin Hayes, Gorman, Jessen, Lyle; No: Acting Chair Slayton). The resolution was approved.