MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Mitchell parents will soon have several new childcare options, with two residents applying to start a daycare out of their home in the coming months and another readying to open back up.
All three applications will be in front of the Mitchell Planning Commission on Monday as the prospective businesses need a Conditional Use Permit before they can officially open. One would be located in the 400 block of East 15th Avenue, which is currently zoned R2 Single Family Residential. Another would be in the 900 block of University Boulevard, also R2. The final application is on Sunnyside Court, an R4 High Density Residential District.
Neighbors living within 140 feet of the applicant properties have been notified. Included in the planning commission packet are any letters sent back, either for the CUPs or against. Each proposal has one letter in support with no negative feedback. One letter included the comment, “We need good and affordable daycare in order to keep and attract more young families.”
City Planner Mark Jenniges tells Mitchell Now that the planning commission will recess from its regular session and reconvene as the city’s Board of Adjustment to debate the daycare applications. He also went into more detail on why an already existing daycare is required to go through the CUP process a second time.
He explains, “BOA puts three conditions on day cares:
1) the permit is non-transferable,
2) if the business ceases to operate for six months, then a new application would be required,
3) pass a fire inspection.
One of the day cares closed for a time period of more than six months, so a new application was required.”
The Mitchell Planning Commission meets Monday at noon inside council chambers at City Hall.