Plan for adult, child day care met with skepticism

The Port Washington Plan Commission last week said a proposed multigenerational day care facility in downtown can be considered an allowable use under the city’s zoning code.

Designating the use as a community service establishment is needed if the city is to consider a plan by Zeal Investment Partners to convert the former Poole Funeral Home at the corner of Main and Wisconsin streets  into a day care facility.

But several commission members said that just because they approved the designation, they are not necessarily ready to approve the use.

“I feel it’s very cloudy as to what you’re doing,” Mayor Ted Neitzke, chairman of the commission, said. “I really don’t understand the business plan.”

The building, he noted, is a “key building” in downtown, and with redevelopment efforts such as the Pier Street Landing apartments and The Seven Hills Collection townhouses at the former police and fire station property, “there will be a significant new population in downtown Port Washington. If we move forward with this, I’d like to see much greater clarity.”

Commission member Eric Ryer concurred, while member Mike Ehrlich called the idea “an interesting concept.”

But, Ehrlich said, adding the designation to the zoning code doesn’t restrict other uses for the property if the current plan isn’t approved.

“I would like to see more information about the building plan,” he said.

The former funeral home is in the city’s B-4 zoning district, which does not specifically allow multigenerational day-care centers, according to a memo from Bob Harris, the city’s director of planning.

Day care centers are not permitted in the B-4 district, he noted, but community service establishments, such as a private lodge or social club, are permitted.

Lillian Williamson of Zeal Investment Partners told the commission that her plan for the former funeral home isn’t a typical day care.

The facility, to be called PooleHouse, would provide programming for as many as 30 adults who would pay a membership fee to attend the center and 16 infants and toddlers whose families would pay for a year-long membership, she said.

Youngsters would generally come in with their parents, she said, adding they can be there for three hours or less without the center needing to be licensed.

PooleHouse would provide a variety of classes, cultural events and workshops for people to attend during the week, Williamson said.

Multigenerational programs would be part of the programming, she said, something that would benefit both seniors and children.

“Having seniors read to children would be good for both of them,” she said.

On weekends, when regular clients don’t attend the center, there could be art shows, speakers and events the public could attend, Williamson said.

She told the commission she is passionate about programming for seniors and helping them flourish.

The type of programming she is considering, she said, would create a modern facility that would benefit people of all ages.

“This is really cutting edge,” she said. “It’s more like a family environment.”

Williamson said she would like to open the facility as soon as possible with a grand opening in spring.

Before that can occur, the commission would have to approve a building, site and operations plan for the business, Harris said.