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After-school program voted down
By LOGAN D. MABE © St. Petersburg Times, published October 1, 2000 WESTCHASE -- Annie Pardo thought she was doing the right thing in getting a child care license, a formality the county imposed on an after-school program she had developed over the past three years. But a glitch in the master-planned community's zoning, combined with complaints from residents, could force her to shut down her Advantage Kids program within 60 days. The Westchase Community Association board voted 5-3 Thursday night to end the program rather than seek a minor modification that would have allowed it to stay open. Pardo runs the for-profit program out of the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center clubhouse and pays the homeowners association 15 percent of the net income for rent. She began offering dance lessons at the center three years ago, then summer camp programs. The after-school day care evolved as more children signed up. When Pardo learned in February that she would need a child care license, she completed eight months of training and seminars to get county approval. "I did everything they asked me to do," Pardo said. But there was a problem. After initially being told that the Swim and Tennis Center could accommodate a day care, Pardo learned that Westchase's zoning did not allow it. The master plan does allow for two day care facilities, but those are already established businesses with full classes. When Westchase officials asked the staff in County Commissioner Jim Norman's office about the oversight, they were told "it fell through the cracks," said board president Bob Argus. "So the left hand doesn't know what the right hand's doing," said member Ruben Collazo. Zoning officials said Westchase would need to apply for a minor modification to allow Pardo's center, something board member Pam Prysner said she wasn't comfortable doing. But Collazo defended the move. "I think we're all in favor of kids' programs here," Collazo said. "What it comes down to is, this is a kid-friendly community, and I'm in no mood to put any kid out of a program." Another problem with the day care, some residents said, is that children in after-school swim and tennis programs could not go into the clubhouse during storms. And there was confusion about whether they could share the facility's restrooms. Argus suggested delaying action until the board had time to investigate possible solutions short of a rezoning. That opinion was shared by a majority of the Swim and Tennis Committee members, said its chairwoman Dorothy Schroeder. "We all agreed that we don't think the rezoning is a good idea, but we don't think we should throw Annie out," Schroeder said. But Prysner's motion to do just that was approved 5-3. Joining her were board members Gary Konopka, Brian Sewell, Janice Snow and Linda Walker. The day care program would end in the next 60 days. Pardo said she is not giving up. She plans to have her attorney look into remedies that would allow the program to stay. Still, Pardo said she was surprised by the swiftness of the board's reaction. "No other program was handled this way," Pardo said, referring to the months-long controversy that surrounded the Team Thomas tennis program. "That's what really shocked me. All I wanted was a fair hearing, not a trial and a hanging." - Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 226-3464 or by e-mail at mabe@sptimes.com.
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