St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Daycare at Former Sta-Fit Gym

(KNSI) — A public hearing for a proposal to transform the former Sta-Fit gym on Roosevelt Road into a 200-child daycare facility will go before the St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday evening.

Vista Daycare is seeking a conditional use permit to operate in approximately 8,200 square feet of the 15,100-square-foot building at 3123 Roosevelt Road. The facility would run weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the remaining building space available for other commercial uses. The facility would include a fenced outdoor play area of approximately 750 square feet, with the potential to expand if needed to meet state regulations. There would be a total of 131 off street parking spaces.

According to city planning documents, there’s an identified need for childcare for 5,300 children across Benton, northern Sherburne, Stearns, Benton, and Wright counties. The shortage has forced approximately 34% of families to become single-income households due to affordability and availability concerns.

Staff are recommending approval of the conditional use permit. If approved, Vista Daycare would still need to obtain licensing from the city, Stearns County and the state before opening. The company has not yet announced a timeline for when the facility might begin serving families.

The hearing is set for 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

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