PL PACKET 06252018 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 21, 2018 Page 5 purchased the property they planned to grow their business. They need 17 children to be a 1 sustainable business. 2 3 Commissioner Kalar asked what is the significance of 17 vs. 14 children. Ms. Johnson stated 4 right now they enroll 14 children per day. She provided the ratio of teacher to student. There are 5 4 instructors on staff daily. Ms. Johnson stated they would still be above the ratio. 6 7 Commissioner Larson asked if Ms. Johnson is aware of any other situations where the number of 8 students is increased to 17. Ms. Johnson stated she has visited other cities to find out their rules 9 and she is not aware of another business within her network that were increased. 10 11 Commissioner Neumann asked what the nature of the complaints have been. Ms. Johnson stated 12 the property next door was rental property and there were complaints about parents picking up 13 after 5pm, parking, and flow of traffic. The gate to the property has been relocated to alleviate 14 these issues. 15 16 Commissioner Neumann asked if there were concerns about the quality of the center. Ms. 17 Johnson stated they are very well known in the metro area and they are very plugged into the 18 community. They have a long waiting list and grows every day. Many on the waiting list are 19 from St. Anthony. Many neighbors have stopped by and shown their support. There have not 20 been any State or County complaints. They have annual inspections from various groups and 21 there is a lot of oversight. 22 23 Commissioner Neumann stated she has never heard of Willow & Sprout. Commissioner 24 Neumann asked how inclusive the center is. Ms. Hodgkins stated there have been children from 25 different ethnic groups. They are very passionate about going to training every year. Ms. Johnson 26 stated they have never had to advertise they get their clients by word of mouth. 27 28 Commissioner Socha asked if she ever had 17 children or was it her understanding that at some 29 point she could have 17. Ms. Johnson stated Ms. Sykes was aware of the plan and it was 30 included that there would ultimately be 17 children. Commissioner Socha asked if Ms. Johnson 31 if anyone has lobbied at the State level and how far did that get. Ms. Johnson stated she hopes to 32 do that as part of her career. 33 34 Chair Papatola asked if when the center was opened were there 14 children and Ms. Johnson 35 agreed. He asked at what point did she decide to try to get 17 children and Ms. Johnson said after 36 being in business for two years. The impact by adding 3 more children could be the addition of 37 1-3 more cars dropping off children and picking them up. Chair Papatola asked how many 38 children could be there based on the size of the property. Ms. Johnson stated it is 35sf per child 39 and the house is approximately 2000 sf. 40 41 Ms. Julie Sexton, 2601 30th Avenue NE, has lived there since 1999. She received the public 42 hearing notice. She assumed the question was whether the center would exist. She received a 43 letter from Ms. Johnson. She has no issue with a family daycare. This business is a commercial 44 business in a residential area. Parking is an issue, kids running across the street, and this is a 45