Akron council unanimously approves conditional use for daycare expansion at 1264 Copley Road

Akron City Council on Feb. 23 passed an ordinance, 10-0, approving a conditional use that will let a childcare operator expand the building at 1264 Copley Road, purchase three adjacent city-owned parcels and add parking to serve a daycare, an adult day program and a small medical clinic.

The petitioner, Shauna Tyler, identified herself to the council as “the owner of several day cares” and said the expansion would allow her to accommodate more children, hire locally and provide after‑school care. “With this new project … I will be able to accommodate more children as well as hire more individuals in our community,” Tyler said.

Planning staff described the project as an expansion of the existing roughly 3,000-square-foot structure by about 5,400 square feet, extending west from the current building. The proposal includes acquisition of three parcels (6716110, 6811294 and 6830619), totaling about 0.38 acres, which the presenter said would sell at about $9,500 plus fees and closing costs. The plan calls for a primary parking lot with 17 spaces behind the addition and a second five-space lot for staff; the front-yard setback for the addition would be adjusted to 10 feet from the Copley Road property line and 5 feet from the Orlando Avenue property line.

Zoning manager Jim Hosmoff told the council the scope of the conditional-use hearing is limited to land‑use and zoning questions — chiefly the requested setback exceptions — and that state licensing and operational issues (for example, daycare licensing) are handled separately. “The conditional use is considering the land use questions at play here,” Hosmoff said, adding the expansion is being evaluated against the city’s zoning code.

A public commenter who identified herself as Apostleette said she supported the project but raised safety and access concerns based on past personal trauma linked to childcare settings and asked whether accessibility and family access issues could be addressed. Hosmoff responded that those operational and licensing matters fall under state review and that the council’s public hearing could only consider zoning and land-use conformance.

Council representative Jan Davis expressed support for the petitioner and for redeveloping the Copley Road business district, saying the project would bring services back to the neighborhood. After a committee report in favor of the conditional use and a successful suspension of the rules, the council voted; the clerk announced the ordinance passed 10 to 0.

The council adjourned the special meeting and said it will reconvene in regular session at 6:30 p.m.