Planning Commission Minutes 2015 06 11

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 12, 2015 Page 3 of 12 Applicant Presentation: Kristen Argow Heaton, 1970 Centennial Drive, Louisville, CO The Louisville site will include children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age The applicant started Active Boulder Kids in 2008 which starts at ages 2.5. In 2013 and 2015, 1 had children and started looking for infant and toddler care. In searching, I found a huge gap. The Louisville building is a perfect fit to add much needed infant and toddler care to the area. Active Louisville Kids expands the idea of Active Boulder Kids but will include infants and toddlers. The City of Boulder sent her statistics for vacancies at preschools which are running at 18%. For infants and toddlers, there is a total of 66 slots for Louisville and Superior and only 54 slots available for one year -olds. Compared to preschool and up, there is little availability for younger children. Judy Fry, Program Manager for Family Services, City of Boulder, notes that CCAP children are not finding centers that accept CCAP in their area. We accept CCAP at Active Boulder Kids and plan to accept at Active Louisville Kids as well. Commission Questions of Applicant: Moline asks about parking. How many cars do you expect on a typical day? How do they fit into 12 spaces? Heaton says the parking lot has an entrance and a separate exit so cars coming through will have spaces assigned for drop-off and pick-up. Staff will park in other spots. We hope that families will be walking and biking to school since we are marketing to neighborhoods directly around the school. We count on the majority of our families to walk and bike. Moline asks her to describe the Boulder facility and how parking works there. Heaton says there is a larger lot at the Boulder facility. Louisville is smaller but with the entrance and exit and designated spots, I don't see any problems. I think it is ample parking from my point -of -view. Public Comment: Marianne Martin, 1752 W Barberry Circle, Louisville, CO. I moved from Nederland to Louisville two years ago. I have 5 year -old twin boys who will start Coal Creek kindergarten in fall 2015. It was a big change moving from a small mountain town and small preschool program. I searched for programs that would take the boys a few days a week. Having twin boys, it was more economical to have in -home care on some levels, but they needed the social activities. What was appealing about Active Boulder Kids was the flexibility they offer and the play -based nature of the approach to care. I see Active Boulder Kids transferring this directly to Louisville. To address the question of drop-off, pick-up, and parking, even though the lot at Active Boulder Kids is bigger, parents are not there at the same time. There is no strict start time or ending time. Some children attend half days. Because of the phased approach, I have never encountered more than two other parents' cars in the parking lot during drop-off or pick-up time. Twelve spaces sound reasonable to me. Being on the bus route is convenient for some Staff arriving from nearby areas. There is a severe shortage for infant and toddler care. I have friends and colleagues who are expecting or have newborns. It is a big stress to find childcare when you are a new parent. Active Louisville Kids will definitely fulfill the need in the community. I think the location is appealing. Since Alfalfas has opened and the new residences are being built, as well as Steel Ranch nearby, the neighborhood will change. This is an existing facility and existing business. I do not think this business will bring traffic into the neighborhood but will keep it in the business area. The area will experience more traffic once the residences will be built. Nancy Alderson, 832 W Mulberry Street, Louisville, CO