Owner outlines operations for proposed Kiddie Academy: 154 slots, infants to 12 years, about 35 staff

At the zoning hearing for SE-2025005, owner Mamata Desari described the proposed center’s operations and capacity. Desari testified the facility is designed to serve up to 154 children ranging "from from 6 weeks onwards to the 12," with anticipated daily hours roughly 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. She said the applicant anticipates approximately 35 employees, including four administrative staff and on-site cooks for meal service.

Desari described the outdoor play area as approximately 5,086 square feet and said play areas would be segregated by age group with supervised rotations: "77 kids are allowed to play at a time, but they have designated times to go into the playgrounds," she said. Staff raised a condition requiring the outdoor play area to meet the zoning standard of 75 square feet per child for 50% of licensed capacity or 75 square feet per child for the total number using the play area, which, depending on interpretation, led to differing calculations discussed on the record (counsel noted that applying 75 sq ft for all 154 children would yield 11,550 sq ft).

The applicant agreed to a staff-recommended limit on playground use to daylight hours and to memorialize hours in the site notes. Parking was discussed: the site plan proposes 48 parking spaces compared to 16 required by the applicable standard; the applicant said the parking count supports drop-off/pick-up circulation and avoids on-street spillover.

No final licensing or operational approvals were made at the hearing; the examiner and staff asked parties to add fence and construction details to the record to ensure compliance with safety and licensing requirements.