HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT MIRAMONT OFFICE PARK - PDP - PDP130023 - REPORTS - MODIFICATION REQUESTModification Request
2.8.2 H Standards: We feel the modification request for the outside play area complies with 2 of
the 4 listed standards, listed below:
(1)The reduced playground size, 4,524 sf complies with both Federal and Colorado State
licensing codes.
According to Colorado State regulations, 12 CCR 2509-8 Program Area 7-Child Care
Center/less than 24 Hour Care, section 7.702-7.702.104 goes over space requirements.
Specifically, for outdoor play area requirements, the State requires us to have a minimum of 75
square feet of space per child for a group of children using the total play area at any one time.
The total square footage must accommodate at least 33% of the licensed capacity of the center or
a minimum of 1,500 sf, whichever is greater.
We are anticipating a capacity of 170 children. Based on the above requirements, we will
have a maximum of 56 children outside at one time. Based on the State requirements, we will
need to have 4,200 sf of space for our children. As we want to build as much outdoor space as
possible, we are building an additional 324 sf of playground space; thus a 4,524 sf playground.
Further, the way The Learning Experience operates their outside areas (and per Colorado
State Code and Regulations) is play time is determined by age groups. We do not have 1-2 year
old children outside with 4-5 year old children. The reduced playground size helps our staff and
educators supervise the children outside to ensure everyone's safety. We do not feel a 7,750 sf
playground is necessary with the limited amount of children that will be outside at any given
time as we limit the play time per the age groups. With a larger playground and less children,
there is more room for errors and mistakes to be made as there are not enough sets of eyes
supervising the children; a larger space increases the likely hood of injury and/or mischief.
(4) Another factor in asking for a modification request is the land limitations. We are
taking the fifth and last parcel of a planned development. Per the site plan, we only have so much
land we can build on without effecting the entire development. To the north and west of the site,
parking fields have already been created. We cannot take away parking spaces for the four other
buildings, and our use, and still meet code.
To the south and east of the site, there is a detention pond. We are able to encroach to the
east of the detention pond, by drudging out the pond to the south to make up for lost capacity.
However, we still need enough capacity for not only our building and the four other buildings in
the office park, but also the church that is to the northeast of our property. We physically cannot
get a 7,750 sf playground on this location; however, based on a 4,524 sf playground, we still
meet Colorado State regulations for playground size without being detrimental to our
neighboring buildings.