St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals Unanimously Approves Permit for New Daycare

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved a conditional use permit to convert the former Sta-Fit building into Vista Daycare.

The company needed special permission for the transformation because the city ordinance requires a permit for daycares with 13 or more children in business districts.

The facility will have the capacity to care for up to 200 kids, and occupy about 8,200 square feet of the 15,100 square foot building. The remaining space will house an event center and a future coffee shop.

Tohow Siyed told KNSI News, this is the first hurdle to getting the place open. “We have a lot of work to do. We have to submit it with the application with the state. We have to go through all the regulations that comes with a daycare.”

Siyed, who has lived in central Minnesota for 20 years, emphasized that the daycare will welcome everyone. “When I say the community, it’s not only East African community. It is everybody in St. Cloud, St. Joe, Sartell, wherever people come from. It is not mandated by the color. Everybody is welcome.”

No one spoke against the move at Tuesday night’s meeting. The Stearns County Human Services department submitted a letter of support, and representatives from two neighboring businesses also voiced approval. City planning documents show the St. Cloud area needs 5,300 additional childcare spots. The shortage has forced about one-third of families to rely on a single income due to childcare affordability and availability concerns.

The building most recently housed small retail stores, but Siyed said that wasn’t working. He and his partners decided to open the daycare to address a community need.

Vista Daycare will operate weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and include a fenced outdoor play area of approximately 750 square feet, with potential for expansion to meet state requirements.

The owners hope to start accepting children in early 2026.

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