Planning Commission Gives Go Ahead to Joyful Child Care Center in St. Cloud for Expansion

(KNSI) – The expansion of Joyful Child Care Center in St. Cloud has gotten the go ahead from the city’s planning commission.

The owner is asking for a Planned Unit Development to transform the 2,400 square foot facility by adding 1,200 square feet of indoor space and creating a brand-new outdoor playground in a 4,800 square foot fenced-in area. That would allow the center to go from caring for 37 kids to nearly double in size, welcoming 71 little ones.

Commissioner Charlie Hobbs told KNSI News he supported the idea because a parent is often forced to drop out of the workforce without childcare. “People shouldn’t have to choose between having a family and having a job. And so, that’s why I’m so happy that we, as Planning Commission, unanimously recommended that this go forward to the council.”

He called it a moral no-brainer. “This is part of quality of life issues. It’s a false dichotomy to say that one should choose family or one should choose work. But often people are forced into that our of sheer necessity.” He says a big reason is due to the lack of childcare.

The planning commission hears testimony and makes recommendations to the city council, and the council always has the final say.

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