City Council Approves New Daycare Center Amid Community Concerns

In a recent city council meeting, the Akron council approved an ordinance allowing the establishment of a child daycare business center at 121 Rhodes Avenue, following a favorable recommendation from the planning staff and planning commission. The decision came after the petitioners, Casey Myers and Rochelle Hosler, agreed to 13 conditions set forth by the council, including the installation of a fenced outdoor play area for children.

The daycare, named Watershed Community School, will occupy the ground floor of a two-story building that is currently classified as an illegal non-conforming retail use. The rear of the property is zoned residential, necessitating conditional use approval for the expansion of retail activities into this area. The outdoor play area is expected to be utilized for two hours each weekday morning by up to ten children and two teachers, with plans for landscaping that incorporates native plants.

The council emphasized that the proposed daycare service would provide significant benefits to the community, and the planning commission's recommendation for approval was based on the belief that the outdoor play area would not intrude on neighboring properties. The ordinance passed unanimously with a vote of 10 to 0.

Additionally, the council announced an upcoming public hearing scheduled for July 22, 2024, at 5 PM, to further discuss the daycare establishment and allow for community input. The notice for this hearing was published in the Akron Beacon Journal and on the city council's website.