Permit for Day Care Center Denied Based on "Noise Generated by Laughter and Screaming of Young Children" and Traffic

In this March 3, 2009 decision, the Kitsap County Hearing Examiner denied a Conditional Use Permit for a day care center and school in a rural area near Port Orchard based on the Examiner’s finding that "[t]he proposal would be materially detrimental to uses or property in the immediate vicinity, and would not be compatible with the existing character, appearance . . . and physical characteristics of property in the immediate vicinity." The Examiner based this finding on a number of possible impacts of the proposal, including "[n]oise generated by laughter and screaming of young children during outdoor playtime and [added] vehicle trips to and from the property." The Examiner also cited traffic safety concerns, and possible impacts to wetlands near trails on the property, as"[y]oung children accompanying instructors to group gatherings . . . would likely not stay on the existing path or footbridge, but would venture off the path trampling stream banks and wetland area . . ."The Kitsap Sun and KOMO News have both run stories on the denial, which could be appealed to the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners.