The James City County Board of Supervisors granted a permit Tuesday for an in-home daycare on Mosby Drive, which ended the owner’s yearlong effort to expand her business.
Almost one year to the day after appearing before the supervisors to request a special use permit for an in home daycare, Tracey Williams reappeared to request an expansion and extended permit.
The board voted 4-1 with Supervisor John McGlennon (Roberts) opposed to grant a 36-month permit for Williams to watch 20 kids in her home at 701 Mosby Drive near Penniman Road.
A public hearing on the request Tuesday had no speakers.
Williams was granted a special use permit last July to operate Creative Kids Child Development Center out of her home for a period of one year. The permit, which allowed Williams to keep 12 children at one time, came with the short time period due to neighborhood restrictions that did not allow commercial operations within the James Terrace neighborhood. The supervisors allowed Williams to continue her business because she had support from most of her neighbors.
By the time the board reviewed Williams’ request for an extended permit and expanded allowance on the number of children, she had successfully changed the neighborhood restrictions to allow her daycare.
The increase to 20 children triggers Department of Social Services requirements for daycares, said Jennifer Van Dyke, a county planner. Williams would be required to provide a handicap parking spot. If Williams watches children under 2-and-a-half years old she will have to install exterior doors on every room.
Chairwoman Mary Jones (Berkeley) recalled the board’s 2013 discussion about Williams’ daycare and the service she provides to the community. She fully supported the Planning Commission in its recommendation — made on a 4-3 vote — to expand the daycare.
McGlennon, the lone supervisor against the expansion, said he thinks Williams is a good childcare provider. His concerns with the increase in children were not tied to her ability, but to the neighborhood.
Williams’ daycare operates during the week from 6 a.m. until midnight, with slightly different weekend hours, and would become a large commercial business with 20 children in the daycare at one time. Additionally, he was concerned about the neighborhood’s possible occupancy turnover due to affordable housing prices. New residents may not be as accepting of the daycare.
McGlennon was outvoted in his concerns, with the board approving Williams’ expansion on a 4-1 vote.
