Winter Park Day Nursery seeks rear-setback variance for single-story addition

The Historic Preservation Board on Sept. 9 heard a staff presentation on a request by the Winter Park Day Nursery to add a single-story rear addition to its building at 741 South Pennsylvania Avenue, inside the College .25 Historic District. Staff described the work as interior renovations plus an addition and recommended approval with conditions.

Staff said the project includes new classroom space and site work and that, because the property is in an R-2 zone, the rear setback would be encroached upon and a variance would be required. "While they're doing this work, staff is recommending that that rooftop equipment be screened since you could see it from the right of way," staff said during the presentation. The applicant's materials showed approximately 2,000 square feet of overall alterations to accommodate new classrooms and restroom and storage areas.

Ali DeMaria, executive director of the Winter Park Day Nursery, said the new classrooms are intended for younger-age groups and will modestly increase enrollment. "The added classrooms are intended for infants, toddlers, and twos," DeMaria said, answering board questions about outdoor play impact. She told the board the infant/toddler playground will be reconfigured to maintain safe play space and that the added parcel acquired in 2025 will provide 14 additional staff parking spaces at the rear.

Board members questioned surfacing for the new rear parking and pressed for permeable materials to address local drainage concerns; the contractor said the options include crushed gravel in a geogrid or grass with geogrid. Board members also asked staff whether neighboring residents had expressed architectural objections; staff said the community meeting produced mostly traffic and pick-up/drop-off questions rather than architecture concerns.

Because the property is in the historic district, the project will also proceed to Planning & Zoning and the City Commission for the required zoning and variance approvals. The board did not take a decision on the variance at this session; staff recommended approval of the architectural elements with the rooftop-screening condition and will return with formal materials when the applicant files for formal action.