Town of Stratham, NH Planning Board

The Town of Stratham, Planning Board will conduct a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 3, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., at the Stratham Municipal Office Complex, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue, Stratham, NH to consider the following:

Zoning Amendments

1. Day-Care Facilities

To add a new Section 5.11 Day-Care Facilities to the Stratham Zoning Ordinance to address the location of Day-Car and Childcare facilities with the Town of Stratham. The proposed ordinance will provide for certain requirements for the issuance of a special exception for the location and operation of a day-care facility within any residential zone and the Town Center. The ordinance also limits the size of any childcare operation based upon NH State licensing requirements and provisions.

Materials related to the above listed Public Hearing are available for review at the Town Hall during normal business hours. For more information, contact the Stratham Planning Office, Chuck Grassie, Town Planner at 772-7391.

5.11 Day-Care Facilities

Day-care facilities shall be allowed within all zones by Special Exception except within the CLIO zone where they shall be allowed by Conditional Use Permit.

Within any zone a Day-Care facility shall comply with all state regulations and unless otherwise noted the general requirements of Section 17.8.2 (Special Exceptions).

Where a Day-Care facility is located in any residential zone, any Special Exception granted by the ZBA shall comply with the additional requirements of this subsection.

State septic requirements and other state licensing requirements may provide additional limitations on staffing and care maximums beyond what the Town of Stratham may require in this subsection.

For Childcare facilities the provisions and definitions provided for in NH RSA 170-E shall be followed in addition to the requirements provided for in this section.

5.11.1 FAMILY CHILDCARE (Home Occupation): the care of no more than 3 non-family members within the home and meets all the requirements of a home occupation as defined in Section 2.1.27 (Home Occupation). No additional requirements shall be needed for a Special Exception.

5.11.2 FAMILY CHILDCARE HOME: a state licensed day-care program operated in a home in which the provider resides.

a. Care provided for a maximum of 6 preschool children plus up to 3 children who are enrolled in a full-day school program (The 6 children shall include any foster children residing in the home and all children related to the caregiver except children who are 10 years of age or older),

b. Minimum 2 acre lot,

c. No more than 3 non-family members may be employed within the home,

d. All staff parking and play areas shall be buffered from abutting residential properties in the side and rear by a fence or dense evergreen growth.

5.11.3 FAMILY GROUP CHILDCARE HOME: a state licensed day-care program operated in a home in which the provider resides.

a. Care provided for 7 to 12 preschool children plus up to 5 children enrolled in a full-day school program (The 7 to 12 children shall include any foster children residing in the home and all children related to the caregiver except children who are 10 years of age or older),

b. Minimum 2 acre lot,

c. Drop-off and pick-up areas shall be internal to the site, no stopping, standing, stacking or parking of vehicles off-site shall be allowed,

d. All staff parking and play areas shall be buffered from abutting residential properties in the side and rear by a fence or dense evergreen growth,

e. The Planning Board through the Site Plan Review process may require additional setbacks and buffering to reduce any impacts on abutting residential properties.

5.11.4 GROUP CHILDCARE CENTER: a state licensed center-based day-care program that is not necessarily located with a residential activity.

a. The maximum number of individuals cared for shall be limited by State licensing requirements,

b. Within the R/A, MAH, PRE and TC zones the minimum lot size shall be 3 acres and the maximum number of children allowed shall not exceed 80, within all other zones only state licensing requirements and limits shall apply.

c. Drop-off and pick-up areas shall be internal to the site, no stopping, standing, stacking or parking of vehicles off-site shall be allowed,

d. All structures shall be setback from any lot line at least 75’,

e. All staff parking and play areas shall be buffered from abutting residential properties in the side and rear by a fence or dense evergreen growth,

f. The Planning Board through the Site Plan Review process may require additional setbacks and buffering to reduce any impacts on abutting residential properties.