Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
Concerned Parents
()
Date: May 10, 2013 07:52AM
Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares
The Town Council will hold a work session on the issue Tuesday night, and a public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
http://herndon.patch.com/articles/town-council-considers-amendment-limiting-number-of-children-in-home-daycares-can-care-for
At its first series of meetings in May, the Herndon Town Council plans to consider an amendment to the Town’s zoning ordinance that would change the maximum number of children an in-home daycare provider can care for, based on the type of dwelling.
Taking a closer look at in-home childcare businesses is something the Commonwealth has been doing over the past year, to the dismay of childcare providers across the county who fear changes to limits could interfere with their income potential.
However, Herndon's move appears to work more in the business' favors.
Currently, in-home childcare businesses are allowed to care for up to five children at any one time.
Under the proposed amendment, daycares in single-family homes will be allowed up to nine per day, and daycares in townhouses will be allowed up to six per day.
In multi-family dwellings, the amendment would change the maximum from five children at any one time, to five per day.
Currently, in-home childcare providers may only provide care for more than five children at any one time by receiving a special exception from the Town Council.
The proposed amendment would also change the number of permissible non-resident employees of in-home childcare businesses from one to two, and change the number of permissible business-related vehicle arrivals to up to 24 during any 24-hour period.
Herndon's Planning Commission recently considered the amendment and, due to an evenly split vote, forwarded it to the Town Council without a recommendation.
Town staff will present the proposed amendment to the Town Council at its work session this week, on Tuesday, May 7. Members of the public are not permitted to speak at work sessions.
The Town Council plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment on Tuesday, May 14; members of the public are encouraged to address the council with their viewpoints on the amendment at this hearing.
Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held in the Council Chambers building at 765 Lynn Street, Herndon.
Meetings can also be viewed online through live streaming video at www.herndon-va.gov.
The Town Council will hold a work session on the issue Tuesday night, and a public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
http://herndon.patch.com/articles/town-council-considers-amendment-limiting-number-of-children-in-home-daycares-can-care-for
At its first series of meetings in May, the Herndon Town Council plans to consider an amendment to the Town’s zoning ordinance that would change the maximum number of children an in-home daycare provider can care for, based on the type of dwelling.
Taking a closer look at in-home childcare businesses is something the Commonwealth has been doing over the past year, to the dismay of childcare providers across the county who fear changes to limits could interfere with their income potential.
However, Herndon's move appears to work more in the business' favors.
Currently, in-home childcare businesses are allowed to care for up to five children at any one time.
Under the proposed amendment, daycares in single-family homes will be allowed up to nine per day, and daycares in townhouses will be allowed up to six per day.
In multi-family dwellings, the amendment would change the maximum from five children at any one time, to five per day.
Currently, in-home childcare providers may only provide care for more than five children at any one time by receiving a special exception from the Town Council.
The proposed amendment would also change the number of permissible non-resident employees of in-home childcare businesses from one to two, and change the number of permissible business-related vehicle arrivals to up to 24 during any 24-hour period.
Herndon's Planning Commission recently considered the amendment and, due to an evenly split vote, forwarded it to the Town Council without a recommendation.
Town staff will present the proposed amendment to the Town Council at its work session this week, on Tuesday, May 7. Members of the public are not permitted to speak at work sessions.
The Town Council plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment on Tuesday, May 14; members of the public are encouraged to address the council with their viewpoints on the amendment at this hearing.
Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held in the Council Chambers building at 765 Lynn Street, Herndon.
Meetings can also be viewed online through live streaming video at www.herndon-va.gov.
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
town
()
Date: May 10, 2013 10:19AM
what's the verdict on this:
Town of Herndon <- in Fairfax County but not actually part of Fairfax County.
Does this post belong here?
Town of Herndon <- in Fairfax County but not actually part of Fairfax County.
Does this post belong here?
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
Fun Fact
()
Date: May 10, 2013 10:29AM
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. "Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting."
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
Home-based child care
()
Date: May 16, 2013 09:42AM
Child care providers fight new permit
Some fear new measures will force some providers out of work
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130515/NEWS/130519374/child-care-providers-fight-new-permit&template=fairfaxTimes
Home-based child care providers in Fairfax County are warning that implementing a new permitting process will reduce the number of child care slots available in the county or cause some providers to go underground and become unlicensed.
After hearing testimony from dozens of in-home child care providers and their clients Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors decided to delay its decision on the updated rules until June 18.
Last year, Fairfax County zoning officials discovered that hundreds of state-licensed child care providers were not in compliance with county zoning rules. The issue came to the forefront in July, when the state began requiring local zoning administrators to sign off on all new licensing applications.
The state permits in-home child care providers to care for up to 12 children while the current county maximum is 10, with a special permit. There are more than 500 providers who have state licenses allowing them to care for up to 12 children, according to county staff.
“We were horrified to find out that we were breaking a law because most of us are very law-abiding, otherwise we wouldn’t be in this business very long,” Sherry Gallier of the Burke Child Care Connection said.
A proposed zoning amendment would bring the county maximum in line with the state maximum but still would require providers to apply for a special permit with the Board of Zoning Appeals to care for more than seven children in a single-family home and more than five children in a townhouse or apartment.
The county also is considering reducing the special permit application fee for home child care from $1,100 to $435.
Even though most providers support increasing the maximum and reducing the fee, many remain concerned that providers will be intimidated by the complexity and cost of the special permit process.
“The nightmare stories all of us have heard from those who have been through the zoning process are turning us away,” said Liz Hijar of the Family Daycare Association of Southern Fairfax County.
CeCe Holman, of the Herndon/Reston Family Child Care Association, said most providers she surveyed say they won’t use the new permit process.
“The number is outrageous on how many people are going to go illegal, how many will go to county permit only and how many will just go out of business,” she said. “I am scared that children will be in unregulated care.”
Going to county permit only would mean reducing the number of children in their care from 12 to seven or five, depending on the type of housing, thereby reducing the number of slots available throughout the county.
“What will happen is, the providers will have to choose which children they keep,” said Sherry Noud, a parent who works part-time and uses a home-based child care provider. “My children will be less preferable than those who need care full time.”
Some county supervisors expressed concern about this issue. They asked county staff to provide more information about how they will implement the new regulations and help make the process as easy as possible for child care providers.
Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said the county needs to ensure that child care businesses can continue while also providing a mechanism for neighbors to raise concerns about parking, noise or other issues that might affect their community.
“Maybe we could make this work and not make it too overly burdensome,” Cook said, suggesting a more administrative permitting process for providers whose neighbors don’t raise objections.
The board also requested information about the possibility of grandfathering in existing state-licensed providers, provided that they haven’t had complaints from neighbors or any other zoning issues.
Those who provide child care in their townhouses also objected to the different limits based on housing type, saying that they do have plenty of space to safely care for as many as 12 children.
“I have heard from many providers in townhomes, and they accommodate 12 with no complaints,” Gallier said
Some fear new measures will force some providers out of work
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130515/NEWS/130519374/child-care-providers-fight-new-permit&template=fairfaxTimes
Home-based child care providers in Fairfax County are warning that implementing a new permitting process will reduce the number of child care slots available in the county or cause some providers to go underground and become unlicensed.
After hearing testimony from dozens of in-home child care providers and their clients Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors decided to delay its decision on the updated rules until June 18.
Last year, Fairfax County zoning officials discovered that hundreds of state-licensed child care providers were not in compliance with county zoning rules. The issue came to the forefront in July, when the state began requiring local zoning administrators to sign off on all new licensing applications.
The state permits in-home child care providers to care for up to 12 children while the current county maximum is 10, with a special permit. There are more than 500 providers who have state licenses allowing them to care for up to 12 children, according to county staff.
“We were horrified to find out that we were breaking a law because most of us are very law-abiding, otherwise we wouldn’t be in this business very long,” Sherry Gallier of the Burke Child Care Connection said.
A proposed zoning amendment would bring the county maximum in line with the state maximum but still would require providers to apply for a special permit with the Board of Zoning Appeals to care for more than seven children in a single-family home and more than five children in a townhouse or apartment.
The county also is considering reducing the special permit application fee for home child care from $1,100 to $435.
Even though most providers support increasing the maximum and reducing the fee, many remain concerned that providers will be intimidated by the complexity and cost of the special permit process.
“The nightmare stories all of us have heard from those who have been through the zoning process are turning us away,” said Liz Hijar of the Family Daycare Association of Southern Fairfax County.
CeCe Holman, of the Herndon/Reston Family Child Care Association, said most providers she surveyed say they won’t use the new permit process.
“The number is outrageous on how many people are going to go illegal, how many will go to county permit only and how many will just go out of business,” she said. “I am scared that children will be in unregulated care.”
Going to county permit only would mean reducing the number of children in their care from 12 to seven or five, depending on the type of housing, thereby reducing the number of slots available throughout the county.
“What will happen is, the providers will have to choose which children they keep,” said Sherry Noud, a parent who works part-time and uses a home-based child care provider. “My children will be less preferable than those who need care full time.”
Some county supervisors expressed concern about this issue. They asked county staff to provide more information about how they will implement the new regulations and help make the process as easy as possible for child care providers.
Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said the county needs to ensure that child care businesses can continue while also providing a mechanism for neighbors to raise concerns about parking, noise or other issues that might affect their community.
“Maybe we could make this work and not make it too overly burdensome,” Cook said, suggesting a more administrative permitting process for providers whose neighbors don’t raise objections.
The board also requested information about the possibility of grandfathering in existing state-licensed providers, provided that they haven’t had complaints from neighbors or any other zoning issues.
Those who provide child care in their townhouses also objected to the different limits based on housing type, saying that they do have plenty of space to safely care for as many as 12 children.
“I have heard from many providers in townhomes, and they accommodate 12 with no complaints,” Gallier said
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
centrevillian
()
Date: May 16, 2013 10:58AM
Ahh Hernduras...
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
matt 703
()
Date: May 16, 2013 11:33AM
The new law is bullshit. All this over-regulation is because one idiot daycare provider watching 23 children allowed some kind of accident to happen and a child tragically died. This is knee-jerk politics.
Our daycare provider is in-home in her townhouse, and if this goes through, will probably cause her to either double her rates or move into a single family house (because you can have more kids that way). Such a shame to see good, honest businesses suffer because one irresponsible action of another.
Our daycare provider is in-home in her townhouse, and if this goes through, will probably cause her to either double her rates or move into a single family house (because you can have more kids that way). Such a shame to see good, honest businesses suffer because one irresponsible action of another.
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
Two Cents
()
Date: May 16, 2013 02:38PM
matt 703 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The new law is bullshit. All this over-regulation
> is because one idiot daycare provider watching 23
> children allowed some kind of accident to happen
> and a child tragically died. This is knee-jerk
> politics.
>
> Our daycare provider is in-home in her townhouse,
> and if this goes through, will probably cause her
> to either double her rates or move into a single
> family house (because you can have more kids that
> way). Such a shame to see good, honest businesses
> suffer because one irresponsible action of
> another.
...And that's why the law is being changed, because things are happening and they shouldn't be.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The new law is bullshit. All this over-regulation
> is because one idiot daycare provider watching 23
> children allowed some kind of accident to happen
> and a child tragically died. This is knee-jerk
> politics.
>
> Our daycare provider is in-home in her townhouse,
> and if this goes through, will probably cause her
> to either double her rates or move into a single
> family house (because you can have more kids that
> way). Such a shame to see good, honest businesses
> suffer because one irresponsible action of
> another.
...And that's why the law is being changed, because things are happening and they shouldn't be.
Re: Herndon - Town Considers Changing Limits for In-Home Daycares / Public hearing next Tuesday, May 14.
Posted by:
Boomerang
()
Date: May 17, 2013 10:23PM
Most of the kiddie care places already are "underground." How else can a townhouse of 2000 sq feet harbor 15 live-in tenants, most of who do not seem to be working, and take in unlimited numbers of little vaqueros 24 hours a day, who are allowed to run totally wild in there playing living room soccer all day/afternoon/night while the neighbors try unsuccessfully to (1) work at home (2) get 7 hours of sleep a night despite the booming and banging against the painted-on wall goals next door (3) deal with the constant noise and trash brought on their property by the undocumented "stay at home illegals" who "take care of the hoards of kids so the neighborhood Sandanistas can get to their restaurant/cleaning/construction jobs 24 hours a day? And why would your heart bleed for these people--they have a whole fleet of expensive cars and SUVs parked in their spots and everyone elses--they have 54 inch flat screen color TVs taking up the wallspace in every room--they get paid entirely in CASH--yeah, that means no need to deal with the IRS, 'cause the owner of the place has a cover job somewhere washing dishes or slinging hash for 6.50 an hour, enough to guarantee as head of the "family" of 17 live-ins that they are all qualified for welfare as long as they are all living there as "his family." . That plus the under the table kiddie home care cash flow cow guarantees them the county median income with no taxes, at least 1/2 of it free from Uncle Sugar's welfare handouts and the other free subsidies from the taxes he is not paying for each new baby added...More than enough to pay cash for the condo and all the cars here--pretty good racket going on, seems to me--but with half the government on 4 day workweeks now the excessive noise from these places is not going to go over well, either. This only works well if all the neighbors are away at work.