Stonecrest defers request for Child Care Institute after staff seeks more documentation

The Stonecrest Planning Commission voted Jan. 6 to defer a special land use permit application from Francine Williams to operate a Child Care Institute (CCI) at 3802 Button Gate Court so staff and the applicant can clarify missing documentation and work with neighbors.

Staff recommended denial at the hearing, saying the application lacked critical information necessary to evaluate the use against ordinance standards. Francine Williams said the proposed facility would provide 24‑hour residential care for school‑aged youth, that she intended to live in the home, and that the city’s ordinance limit (six) guided her planning. She emphasized the need for licensed placements, saying Georgia faces a shortage of homes for children in state care.

Supporters — including a mental‑health professional and a nearby resident — urged the commission to consider the community benefits. Opponents, including an adjacent neighbor, said a CCI was not compatible with a quiet single‑family street and raised concerns about traffic, oversight and safety. Staff told commissioners the key missing details included the ages and number of young people to be served, specific room assignments for 24‑hour oversight, and whether state licensing would align with municipal ordinance limits.

Commissioners said they wanted staff and the applicant to resolve those questions and to hold additional community outreach; the commission voted unanimously to defer SLUP25‑005 for a full cycle.

Next steps: Staff will work with the applicant to collect the information needed (ages and count of residents, floor‑plan assignments for caregivers and any required staffing/oversight documentation), and will coordinate a follow‑up CPIM to allow neighbors to review the revised materials.