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K ristin B len k u s h 25 0 8 3 6 th A v e n u e N o rth e a st Sa in t A n th o n y , MN 55418 June 4, 2018 Saint Anthony Village City Council c/o Mark Casey, City Manager 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony Village, MN 55418 Dear Council Members: I am writing in support of the proposed zoning code text amendment permitting 17 children in child care in the residential district and also the conditional use permit requested by Willow and Sprout, both of which I view as a highly compelling public interest. I am a resident of Saint Anthony Village and the parent of three kids. My oldest child attended Willow and Sprout from 2012 until she started kindergarten in 2016, and she is currently finishing up her first grade year at Wilshire Park. My sons, ages five and three, currently attend Willow and Sprout. My family and I have been amazed by the welcoming nature of the people in Saint Anthony Village. The small-town, kid-friendly feeling of this community is really special and it makes me grateful that we chose this place to raise our family. We have been incredibly impressed by the elementary school education that our daughter is getting as well. It is not easy to find high quality pre-K child care options in this area - especially for infants and toddlers. The hybrid in-home model that Willow and Sprout uses is unique, and provides incredible benefits to this community. The children get the benefit of individualized attention and the continuity of care providers over a number of years. The small, manageable environment fosters confidence and curiosity in the children. Parents get the benefit of care that is conveniently located in the neighborhood, and the peace of mind that comes from having multiple, qualified care providers in the home. I would encourage any community member to tour Willow and Sprout and understand what a magical and supportive place this is for children. We should encourage the development of more of this type of education within Saint Anthony Village. It is clear from the length of the Willow and Sprout wait list that this is a resource our community lacks. The reality is that the difference to neighbors of increasing from 14 to 17 kids is negligible. Minnesota has some of the most stringent child care laws in the country. If Minnesota law permits 17 kids, I can see no reason why Saint Anthony wouldn't support this text amendment. It is expensive to provide quality child care. Permitting a slightly increased number of children would encourage others in our community to take on this highly sought after model of child care. I also want the people who are spending 45 hours a week with my children to be compensated well for their work, which is better accomplished with a ratio that reflects the State of Minnesota requirements. I want to live in and raise my children in a community that supports neighborhood-based child care. I would also like to offer some alternative perspectives on the comments made by some neighbors at the planning commission meeting. A few neighbors commented that the amount of traffic on Wilson Street is a concern. I would invite council members to observe the parking and traffic activities on the 30