Watertown Board to Review Daycare and Preschool Proposal for 1016 5th Avenue SE
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - At the upcoming City of Watertown Board of Adjustment meeting scheduled for this coming Thursday, August 20, 2026, board members will review a conditional use proposal for the property at 1016 5th Avenue SE. Submitted by Tom Mattingly on behalf of Legacy Properties-Residential LLC, the request seeks approval for three conditional uses within the city’s C-3 Highway Commercial District.
The property currently features an existing single-family dwelling that the applicant intends to utilize for an “in-home” daycare operation. However, because the property is situated in a C-3 Highway Commercial District, residential home daycares are not permitted by right. Under C-3 zoning, child care operations are classified as “Day Care Facility (Non-residential)” and require explicit approval from the Board of Adjustment.
The Three-Part Conditional Use Request
To resolve zoning constraints and ensure operational flexibility for prospective tenants, the applicant has outlined three specific conditional use requests:
· Preservation of Pre-Existing Residential Use: Allows pre-existing R-1 (Single Family Residential) or R-3 (Multi-Family Residential) uses to continue. Approval of this request would restrict future activity strictly to rebuilding or remodeling the existing structure, while explicitly prohibiting any new residential construction.
· Non-Residential Day Care Facility Approval: Formally authorizes the operation of a daycare facility on the C-3 zoned parcel.
· Educational Institution / Preschool Designation: Grants permission for an educational institution or preschool, giving future operators flexibility to run a formal preschool curriculum in conjunction with daycare services.
Neighborhood Context and Compatibility
The applicant, Legacy Properties-Residential LLC, holds substantial real estate investments in the surrounding block. According to application filings, the entity and its associated LLCs own several surrounding properties, including:
· Residential properties directly adjacent on both sides of 1016 5th Avenue SE.
· A residential property located directly across 5th Avenue SE.
· The adjacent industrial warehouse to the east.
· The mechanical/body shop located south across the alley.
· An adjacent car lot and the nearby Aspen Counseling building.
Directly across 5th Avenue SE, the area is zoned R-2A Single Family Attached Residential. The applicant notes that preserving the residential appearance of the single-family house aligns with the existing residential character of the immediate block.
Site Logistics and Infrastructure
The application addresses several standard conditional use criteria regarding site impact and infrastructure:
· Ingress & Egress: Primary entry and exit points will utilize existing front and back access points on the structure.
· Parking & Traffic: On-site vehicle arrangements and existing parking areas will remain unchanged.
· Refuse & Waste: If classified under residential conditions, the property would utilize municipal garbage collection. If operating commercially, the tenant will be required to arrange for commercial container services.
· Utilities & Buffering: Existing utility connections will be maintained, and no additional structural buffering or screening is currently proposed.
· Signage: Plans include utilizing an existing sign slot above the front door or placing a small signage unit in the front yard if operated commercially.
City Staff Recommendation
Following review by municipal staff—including City Manager Alan Stager, Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten, and Planner Ashton Koch—the city administration recommends approval of all three conditional use motions.
The Board of Adjustment will officially consider and vote on each motion during the August 20, 2026 meeting.
