Committee reviews special-use request for home daycare at 2658 E. 201st Place

The Gary City Planning and Development Committee reviewed a special-use permit request from petitioner Betty Coe Cummings to operate a home daycare at 2658 East 201st Place. Attorney Molina told the committee the property is zoned R-2 and that a home daycare is allowed there with a special-use permit; the Board of Zoning Appeals recommended the request unanimously, 4–0, on May 8.

Betty Coe Cummings told the committee she has run daycares before and is now operating from her own home after a previous owner sold the property where she had been located. Cummings said she plans to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and to begin with “12” children, subject to state licensing and inspection. When asked, she said she still needs the final approval from the state inspection process.

Committee members asked routine questions about hours and capacity and did not raise objections. One council member said she was ‘‘feisty and very persistent’’ and expressed confidence that Cummings would be responsive to the city’s requirements. No formal council action was recorded at the review; the committee noted the BZA recommendation and that the petitioner is awaiting state inspection and final licensing steps before commencing operations.

Staff will return the item to the council with any outstanding documentation required for final approval.