West Windsor daycare center granted variance

By: Emily Craighead
   WEST WINDSOR — The Planning Board on Wednesday granted a site plan waiver and bulk variance to WWM Properties for a daycare center in its planned development on Route 571 at Southfield Road.
   The Learning Center daycare center will be permitted to enroll up to 182 children — 82 more than the township ordinance allows and 32 more than the state statute allows.
   Based on previous Planning Board decisions and the fact that the applicant meets the amount of indoor space required for 182 students, the board approved the variance even though it exceeds the number of students allowed by the state statute.
   With 10,000 square feet of space indoors, Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner said the playground allowing for 30 to 35 students is sufficient. The play area outside could not be expanded because it would infringe on the township’s greenbelt, an area protected for environmental reasons.
   The township ordinance limiting the number of students was based on the rationale that many daycare centers were "mom-and-pop operations," Mr. Gardner said. The Learning Center will have about 20 employees.
   Many children attend daycare part time, and it is unlikely 182 would ever be at the center at the same time, he said.
   WWM Properties received approval in 2003 for a 44,000-square-foot center with five buildings, including a CVS drugstore, a bank, two retail stores or an office building.