Although they all agreed there is a great need for safe, affordable children’s day care, more than a dozen Kalona residents voiced opposition to having in the Kalona Mennonite Church.

During the Kalona Board of Adjustment meeting Thursday, residents asked the board to deny the church’s request for a zoning variance that would permit establishment of a licensed nursery-preschool day care for up to 49 children.

The church, at 902 6th St., is in an R-1 area that does not permit such a facility. It is permitted in R-3 and R-2 zoned areas.

Jennelle Bender, chairman of the church council, said that the request for the variance was simply the first step “in looking into the option of having affordable, caring day care.”

The facility would be a licensed one serving from 20-49 children, “although at this point we are not sure of the numbers.”

More than a dozen residents in the area have voiced opposition, stressing they are not opposed to the idea, that the service is needed, but that the location is ill-advised.

Paulette Yotty presented a letter, signed by 13 residents, citing strong opposition.

“We do not need or want the additional traffic, delivery vehicles, snowblowers, extra garbage, hoking horns, screeching children or possibly people or children on our property.”

She said that the closeness of the church, within 30 feet of the residences, would add noise and traffic, and that there already is sufficient problem from “skateboards on ramps (on the church property) and people slamming dumpsters….Just imagine the noise of 49 small children.”

She and the other signers stressed “We agree that Kalona is in desperate need of a day care center, but a quiet residential area is not the correct location. We know that there are other available vacant buildings in Kalona and possibly one could be made into a daycare center.”

Other residents spoke how they had selected the area because it is quiet and a good place for retirees.

Martha Beckman said that they and moved from a “large lot to a small one for its quiet location and to establish a bird habitat.” With the planned day care to operate from 6 a.m.-6 p.m., within 30 feet of the Beckman property, “we will be lucky to see a bird, let alone hear one.”

She added that the “church is not a place for an on-going commercial business,” citing that it unfair to any competitors “with its tax exempt status and lower overhead.”

Bender, in response to questions, said that the plan has not been fully studied and that it has not been vote upon by the church membership, “although they have been informed about it.”

She said that it was possible it would be a two-year trial with a smaller group of “maybe 15 children.”

Both the state fire marshal and the Department of Human Services said the facility, which would be in the church basement, could accommodate up to 49 children, she explained.

Adjustment Board Chairman Gary Fisher said that normally the board would have voted at the session, but “one member is not present.” Even more, another member “lives in the neighborhood” and would abstain from voting and a third member was 20 minutes late. A 4-1 vote or a unanimous vote is requried for any decision.

He assured all at the meeting that the board will vote within 15 days “and I assure you it will be well before that.”