24-hour day care needs fine-tuning

A 24-hour day care center is a commendable idea, Lansford Zoning Hearing Board members told resident Sutia Alston on Monday. But her ambitious plans need considerable fine-tuning before they would be ready to present for borough approvals.

The board denied her request for a special exception, but left the matter open to allow Alston to return once her proposal is better defined.

Zoning hearing board solicitor Michael Greek said Alston would receive a written document, detailing the reasons why the board ruled as it did, within 45 days.

Prior to the zoning hearing, borough planners Ron Hood Sr., John Oransky and Michael Kafkalas recommended that Alston have plans in place for off-street parking, develop a detailed site plan, comply with state licensing requirements and Labor and Industry rules. They also recommended that she have proper entrances and exits, including emergency exit, and consider noise control and security.

Alston, of 38 East Water St., Lansford, wants to open the center at 30 1/2 East Water St., which is just behind her house. The center would serve between 35-50 children from 6 weeks through 13 years old. Alston told the zoning board she would have a staff of six teachers on each of three shifts to care for the children.

But she needs a special exception permit to use the row house, which is in an R2 zone, for a day care center. The zoning hearing board, after listening to Alston's plans, advised her to enlist the aid of an architect to draw detailed plans for classrooms, sleeping rooms, entrances, exits and fire escapes; firm up plans for off-street parking (Alston would have one parking space for each employee and one for every five children); and figure out exactly how many children she would be caring for.

They also suggested that Alston look at some of the vacant commercial buildings in town instead of using the Water Street house.

Alston said she has a verbal agreement with her sister-in-law to buy the house, which is three stories and a finished attic. The basement door opens onto Abbott Street, she said, and that would be the entrance.

She said she plans to use the basement and first floor for classrooms and the second floor and attic as sleeping rooms. Her office would also be in the attic. Alston plans to have five bunk beds, sleeping 10 older children, in the attic; four bunk beds sleeping eight children on the third floor and seven cribs on the second floor for babies and toddlers.

Greek asked Alston about her site plan, which Alston said she drew herself, and about fire escapes, which were not included on the drawing.

Alston, who is employed as a therapeutic support staff for ReDCo, a Pottsville-based human services agency, told the board she has enough college credits to run the day care center. She has a college degree, will graduate with a degree in special education in May and will have her day care director's certificate in December 2010. She said she is taking courses in nutrition so she can do the cooking at the center.

In response to questions from zoning hearing board member Lorraine Latham, Alston said she is circulating surveys to measure the need for a 24-hour day care in the area. She has yet to get the polls back, however.

Zoning board member Joseph Orsulak asked how big the back yard of the proposed center is, but Alston didn't know. Greek said state law mandates 10 square feet of outdoor play space for each child, and that the yard must be surrounded by a six-foot fence.

Borough councilwoman Mary Kruczek, sitting in the audience, asked about the floor plan; and next-door neighbors Bill and Bonnie Hicks asked about parking, noise abatement and expressed concern about their dogs. The couple said they did not oppose the center.

In other matters Monday, the zoning hearing board granted Thomas M. Davis' request to build an attached garage to his home at 31 Powell St. Davis sought a variance which provides that not more than 45 percent of the lot area shall be covered with buildings or structures, and a variance from the required 3-foot side yard setback in order to build the garage.

The garage would cover the space now occupied by Davis' driveway.