The Richardson City Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of a special permit request by Good Shepherd of North Texas to operate a daycare facility during its July 16 meeting.
The overview
Good Shepherd of North Texas plans to operate the daycare within a building located at 1006 Hampshire Lane, according to city documents. Information submitted to the commission indicates a building with over 4,700 square feet and a 3,000-square-foot play area. Within the play area, around 800 square feet is earmarked for a soft surface, per city documents.
Senior Planner Derica Peters said the facility will operate a mobile check-in to prevent over-parking at the site, adding that the special permit is contingent on a formal shared parking and shared dumpster agreements. Per city documents, the maximum capacity for students is 80, which is based on state requirements.
Nii Laryea, a co-owner of Good Shepherd of North Texas, said there are plans to eventually purchase a school bus to transport students. The applicants said the facility will likely have five teachers when it first opens.
Some context
Peters said a daycare previously operated in the building until 2019, but closed shortly after The Velvet Snout dog care facility opened just to the north. An indoor soccer facility, Crossbar, operates to the south, she added.
Per city documents, a special permit was approved for a Children are Heroes Learning Center to operate a new daycare facility in 2021, but expired when a building permit was not obtained. Children are Heroes chose to operate in a different location in Richardson, Peters said.
What’s next?
A public hearing before Richardson City Council has tentatively been scheduled for Aug. 12.
