CCP 04-29-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~'r, ""T) Pilgrim House Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 1212 W. Highway 96, Arden Hills, MN 55112 (651) 631-2582 e e Re: Special Use Permit Amendment submitted to the City of Arden Hills Pilgrim House is requesting an amendment to its special use permit to allow operation of a daycare/preschool for up to twenty children on its premises. This letter is in response to concerns about the requested daycare operation expressed at the April 3, 2002 Planning Commission meeting. According to Norma Bourland, Director of Congregations Concerned for Children, over 75% of Minnesota mothers are working mothers. The need for quality daycare/learning centers is ever increasing. Although large operations are more economical, they are not always age-appropriate, nor do they meet the needs, of many preschool children. Pilgrim House hopes to work with the community and provide a community service by allowing Haven Hill Childcare Center to rent space in our building for that purpose. To our knowledge, this will be the only small daycare /preschool in the Arden Hills community. We recognize our neighbor's concerns about child safety. It has always been our intention to fence either the playground area or the back of our lot, depending on regulatory requirements and neighbor preferences, The daycare/preschool will be owned and operated by Haven Hill. It's director, Julie Carlson, has II years experience in childcare and has successfully directed a similar facility. Haven Hill's mission is to offer a structured, fully supervised program that provides a loving and secure environment where children can grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, and intellectually. The program will include scholastic storytelling, creative art projects, non-aggressive indoor games, and visits to the local library. A fully supervised, outdoor, appropriately-fenced play area will be used for 30- 45 minutes once a day (winter) or twice a day (summer), weather permitting. Under no circumstances will children be allowed to leave the Pilgrim House premises. Haven Hill's program should certainly not be pictured as a gathering ofloosely supervised noisy children. The proposed program must be an asset to the community and not a burden on the neighborhood. To further elaborate the Haven Hill program and also answer specific questions raised at the above hearing, various Haven Hill documents are attached, including: . RE: Our Program and Neighbor's Concerns . Letters of recommendation from parents with children currently enrolled in the daycare under Julie Carlson's direction at the Shoreview Alliance Church · Letter of recommendation from the pastor of the Shoreview Alliance Church Sincerely, ~~ l~ 04jLL(O'z.- Albano Lima Chairman of the Board, Pilgrim House UU Fellowship