John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees approved an in-home child-care business care center during a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, in the Nederland Community Center.

At its November 28, 2018, meeting, the Planning Commission voted in favor of recommending that the Board of Trustees approve the Special Review Application submitted by Kiera Schuler. Schuler proposes to establish a state-licensed in-home child care center called Dandy Lion Playschool LLC. The zoning for this property is Low Density Residential (LDR).

The SRU application and public hearing was continued from the September 26 meeting for the board to consider the proposed code change required to allow the in-home childcare use, according to background. The town attorney indicated the change to code would require resubmittal of a new application, along with all noticing requirements.

Due to the length of the process, the board agreed to waive associated fees for the latter review. The former application before the commission was tabled indefinitely on October 24, according to background.

The code change to allow in-home childcare was reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on November 5, thus allowing the applicant to proceed with the process for approval of her proposal. Schuler further outlined her business scope in the SRU application and attached an explanation of how their proposed business corresponds with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.

The 6,907-square-foot parcel contains a 1,509-square-foot home, of which 210-square-feet on the first floor will be utilized for the proposed business, along with use of the kitchen, downstairs bathroom and outdoor, fenced in play area. The applicant has submitted a complete site plan and has met all application requirements, including notice to property owners within 300 feet of the property of the September 26, 2018, public hearing before the Planning Commission.

The property is zoned within the Low Density Residential (LDR) district. Kiera Schuler purchased the property in August 2017. Town Administrator Karen Gerrity came before the Planning Commission asking for special review for day care, and the Planning Commission agreed and would support it.

Schuler said she opened a day care in Boulder. The state has a lot of great resources as well as specialists. She got licensed and moved up to Sugar Loaf.

She has four children, and her goal is to be licensed. She had a wait list for six months and has had four to five calls per week, so the need definitely exists in Boulder and elsewhere. Trustee Kristen Conrad said she agrees we need this kind of service up here.

Mayor Pro-Tem Julie Gustafson said this is providing a valuable service that has been asked for by the community for years. The board approved the proposal unanimously.

Gerrity announced that Public Works Employee Nicki Dunn was named employee of the year from all departments. She was never afraid to take on any task no matter where it was and helped write grants and then implement the work for the improvement of the town.

Town Treasurer Jen Hagey and Public Works Director Chris Pelletier were second along with Community Center Director Dawn Baumhover and Emmitt Pelletier.

The board met on January 15, 2019. The next regular meeting of the Nederland Board of Trustees will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Nederland Community Center.

(Originally published in the January 17, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)