Owner seeks variance to reopen longtime Hilldale child care center within 1,000‑foot rule

Phil Ryan, owner of 6029 Hilldale Drive, asked the Aug. 14 Stonecrest Community Planning Information Meeting for a variance from the city’s distance requirement in Section 4.2 0.19 (city code) to operate a child day care center at a building that previously housed a daycare from 1984 until the COVID pandemic.

Ryan said the building was constructed specifically for childcare, has playground equipment and interior fixtures sized for children, and has been vacant while a legal dispute allowed the prior license to expire. He told the meeting a lease is pending with an operator that already runs three other locations and that the operator would upgrade the facility, renovate the interior and kitchen and go through required licensing inspections.

Ryan told attendees the closest operating child care center is about 692 feet away and that the request is for an exception to the city’s 1,000‑foot spacing requirement. “We’re within a thousand feet of an existing day care that opened while this 1 was closed,” he said. He argued the building’s history and configuration, the cost to repurpose the structure for another use and community need for childcare supported granting the variance.

Residents asked questions about site security, playground condition and neighboring uses. Stella Flowers, a Stonecrest resident who toured the property, said the playground equipment and kitchen appeared dated and asked whether the owner or future operator would upgrade them; Ryan said the operator intends to renovate interiors and the kitchen and that the operator believes existing outdoor equipment is useable but will comply with licensing inspections.

City staff said the variance application will advance to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 16 for formal consideration. No decision was made at the informational meeting.