Variance for Happy Time Child Care in Wakulla County is Approved

The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners approved a controversial variance for Happy Time Child Care by a four to one vote at the February 5 BOCC meeting. Commissioner Howard Kessler voted against the variance citing concerns by residents of the bordering Golden Gate subdivision.

Happy Time came before the Board during the January 4th regular meeting with a request to change the zoning from RR1 to C3 to allow for the construction of an additional parking lot to better handle the morning drop off and afternoon pick-up situation at the day care. The business is located on the corner of Highway 319 and Happy Time Drive, approximately one mile south of the Bloxham and 319 intersection. The parking lot would be located at the rear of the facility instead of in front of the facility.

Several commissioners and residents of the Golden Gate subdivision, which is located behind Happy Time, were concerned about changing the zoning to C2 because of the potential for other commercial uses in the future. It was agreed that the applicant would look into getting a variance instead of the requested rezoning and bring the item back at a future meeting.

At the February 5 meeting, Linda Wicker, owner of Happy Time, agreed to close down the current driveway and to allow for an eight foot setback along the edges of the bordering residential property. Commissioner Maxie Lawhon made a motion to approve the variance for Happy Time with a second by Commissioner George Green.

Golden Gate subdivision resident Roy Moates, whose property will border the new parking lot, spoke out against the proposed variance.

“Each one of you has said you wouldn’t want that behind your house, but then each one of you comes up here and votes to approve it,” said Moates. “I’m still going to have the same noise problems I would have had if you had changed the zoning to commercial. Each one of you needs to back up and think about what you are doing. Commissioner Kessler is the only one who is trying to do what’s right for Wakulla County. I’m ashamed of ya’ll for treating me like you do.”

Wakulla County citizen John Trice was also opposed to the variance, and suggested that Wicker move the daycare to another location that would be more suitable.

Commissioner Howard Kessler stated that he would be voting against the variance. “I think that it’s very important for all of us to take the words of Mr. Moates and think about them,” said Kessler. “Every time this board infringes and changes neighborhoods it’s somebody’s back yards. People bought (in Golden Gate) because it’s residential. A business that is doing well has options. A person who has moved into a neighborhood and lived there for 20 or 30 years has the option to move, if they can afford it, and I think that’s unfair. I don’t want to come off as a grouchy old man; I think it’s great that Happy Time is doing well and that they have lots of children, but at some point they need to take some responsibility and move to a better location rather than having it infringe on a neighborhood.”

Commissioner Ed Brimner commented that he could certainly understand the position of the citizens who were opposed to the variance, but he also noted that Happy Time was offering to do something that was possibly going to cost around $100,000 to “make the lives of every child and adult who travels up and down the Crawfordville Highway a little bit safer” by moving the exit and entrance to Happy Time Drive.”

This article originally published on February 6, 2007.

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